FEBRUARY has been a suspenseful month for many Ilonggos.
Their favorite TV station, ABS-CBN, nearly lost its franchise if it did not apologize to President Rodrigo R. Duterte for its failure to publish his political ads way back in 2016 during his campaign for the presidency.
There being no more objection from the President, its application to renew the TV franchise can now be acted upon by Congress.
For Ilonggos there is also the local “battle royale” on who will operate and take control of the power service in Iloilo City. Panay Electric Co. (PECO) is currently providing power for Iloilo City but MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power), armed with a Writ of Possession from the Regional Trial Court Branch 23, and supported by court sheriffs and a battalion of policemen, was able to obtain a Court Order with Authority to simultaneously take over PECO substations Friday last week in Baldoza, La Paz; General Luna Street; Tabuc Suba, Jaro; and in Bolilao, Mandurriao.
PECO was caught by surprise but remained in control of the power facilities to serve consumers. It appears that MORE Power was able to secure a writ from the court and install its personnel, apparently to “learn” how to operate the power plant in expectation of takeover?
The court, in its order, clearly recognized the technical incapacity of MORE to run the power plant when it admitted that the operation shall still be handled by PECO which has the expertise.
MORE Power is the only electric company that was granted a franchise without owning a single electric post and with no trained personnel to run a power plant. PECO has not yet decided to sell its power installations.
For the sake of not disrupting our power service in Iloilo, we believe that MORE should be more circumspect to wait for the decision of the court to determine the reasonable value of PECO’s power distribution system and the order to transfer ownership upon payment of just compensation. The conflict is complicated.
While waiting, we hope the parties do not rock the boat so that there will be no power interruption.
Meanwhile, may we share with you a poem that we wrote in Hiligaynon to entertain you and keep your worries away from a brownout should there be serious disagreement between the parties. We hope you will like it.
ABYAN SA TELEFONO
Aga pa sang isa ka adlaw,
May mensahe sa akon telepono,
Gapangita sia sing abyan,
Maskin indi kuno guapo!
Daw naham-ot man ako
Sining iya bida,
Agud lang makipagabyan,
Siguro mabuot ini sia kag masadya.
Ang akon pangusioso lang,
Ginsabat ko sia dayon,
Tagadiin ka Inday, pamangkut ko,
Sa text ko sa iya kahapon.
Taga Zamboanga ako, sabat nia,
Dalaga ako, diri ako sa Iloilo gatu-on,
Luyag ko makipagabyan,
Sa isa ka Ilonggo nga pamatan-on.
Aba, maayo gid, siling ko,
Ari man ako nga maabyanon,
Ti, diin kita makitaay, sa Megaworld?
Hulaton ta sa McDo, mamahaw ta dayon! (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com/PN)
