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[av_heading heading=’JUST ANOTHER DAY ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY L UIS BUENAFLOR JR.
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Friday, November 17, 2017
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“Get up, stand up!
Stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up!
Don’t give up the fight!”
— written and performed by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh
THE NATIVES of “I Am Iloilo City” through their representatives at the city council or the Sangguniang Panlungsod have spoken “Tama na, sobra na!” They have enough of Panay Electric Company or PECO.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod just passed a resolution opposing the renewal of the franchise of PECO as the electric service provider of “I Am Iloilo City” and calls on the government to take over the power distribution for the city until a qualified distributor comes in.
Indeed the people have spoken through their representatives that they don’t want another 25 years of PECO.
It’s quite commendable really that the Sangguniang Panlungsod heard the “people sing” and got their acts together and did something for the people.
Well, it was almost a unanimous vote except for one dissenter who did not vote – Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo. Now we do not know as to whose voice Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo was listening to; it was certainly not the “people singing.”
We also do not know his motivation, perhaps his mind was still on breastfeeding mothers.
Along this line, moi is curious. In a radio interview a councilor said, or perhaps the appropriate word is threatened, that if the franchise of PECO is not renewed “I Am Iloilo City” will plunge into darkness and the natives will go back to kingki and kandila. Was it Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo?
Here are excerpts from the Nov. 15 issue of Panay News:
SP: DON’T RENEW PECO FRANCHISE
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) passed a resolution “vehemently opposing” the renewal of Panay Electric Company’s (PECO) franchise and calling on the national government to take over the power distribution utility “until a qualified distributor comes in.”
PECO has been monopolizing power distribution in this city for over 90 years. It seeks to renew its franchise that is expiring in 2019.
One of the reasons the SP cited in pushing for the nonrenewal of PECO’s franchise was the power distribution utility’s failure to completely refund the consumers it overbilled.
In 2004 the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered PECO to refund consumers P631 million.
“Up to this date, the refund has not been completed,” said Councilor R Leonie Gerochi.
The other reasons the SP cited were the following:
* poor customer complaints service
* erroneous and inconsistent electric meter readings
* lack of transparency in operations
Gerochi, the resolution proponent, also criticized PECO for not having the courtesy of informing the city government of its desire to continue distributing power to the city.
PECO filed the application to renew its franchise with the Committee on Legislative Franchises in the House of Representatives. The congressional hearing for this is Nov. 22.
In a resolution passed last week, the SP urged the committee to hold the hearing in this city to give consumers the opportunity to speak about PECO.
***
There is no turning back. The battle lines have been drawn. Iit’s the natives of “I Am Iloilo City” and the Sangguniang Panlungsod versus PECO, that monolith who has held the city in bondage for over 90 years.
This is a good fight. The natives of “I Am Iloilo City” are fighting for emancipation and in a bizarre twist of fate the Sangguniang Panlungsod, although not normally known to go out on a limb for the people, broke tradition and sided with the natives.
Take note that the resolution the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed says “vehemently opposing” the renewal of the franchise of PECO – strong words indeed coming from a usually subservient Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Moi can only speculate what motivated this new “people-oriented” Sangguniang Panlungsod. Perhaps they had an epiphany and they have seen the light (pun intended) or with Former World Mayor No. 5 now Fugitive No. 1 Jed Mabilog gone, they are now free to become what they really are – the people’s representatives.
Of course, we know the battle is far from won; it’s actually just the beginning. So far the score is: natives of “I Am Iloilo City” 1, and PECO nil.
Still on the first half, on Nov. 22 there will be a public hearing on the franchise renewal of PECO in Manila. From what moi heard all kagawads (there is no confirmation Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo will attend or not) of the Sangguniang Panlungsod will attend to show solidarity in the fight for emancipation from PECO’s bondage.
It’s already official: PECO by 2019 is no longer welcome in “I Am Iloilo City.” Maybe they should take their business somewhere else, Timbuktu perhaps. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
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