ILOILO City – Mayor Jose Espinosa III won’t meddle in the ongoing congressional deliberations on two franchise applications for power distribution in this city.
“I will leave it to Congress to act on them,” said Espinosa, referring to the franchise application of More Minerals Corporation (MMC) and the application for franchise extension of Panay Electric Company (PECO).
The Sangguniang Panlungsod unanimously approved yesterday a resolution authorizing Espinosa and councilors R Leone Gerochi and Joshua Alim to intervene in the ongoing congressional deliberations “to ensure that the welfare of consumers is upheld and protected.”
“Kapila na sila mag-hearing sa Congress pero it seems wala kita ginapangayuan sang sentimiento diri sa syudad,” said Gerochi who authored the resolution.
Espinosa, however, did not seek such authority from the city council. He said scrutinizing the applications “is a function and under the jurisdiction of Congress.”
“Hands-off ang policy ko dira,” he stressed.
MMC’s application already hurdled the scrutiny of the House committee on legislative franchises. PECO’s, on the other hand, remains pending in the committee.
Espinosa said the city government would abide by whatever decision of Congress on the applications.
Gerochi is the chairperson of the SP committee on transportation, energy and public utilities.
Alim, on the other hand, volunteered to intervene. He chairs the committee on police, fire, penology, public safety, order and security, dangerous drugs and rehabilitation.
The Private Electric Power Operators Association (PEPOA) had warned that this highly urbanized city was at risk of suffering from a power crisis if the franchise to distribute electricity was given to a company that had no distribution system, referring to MMC.
It would be wiser if PECO, the existing power distributor in this city, was allowed to extend its franchise, according to PEPOA.
PECO’s franchise expires next year. It seeks an extension of 25 years.
MMC, on the other hand, is a neophyte in power distribution. According to Atty. Ranulfo Ocampo, PEPOA president, MMC does not have the technical capability to operate and maintain a power distribution utility in Iloilo City by the mere fact that it is a mining company.
“Even if MMC were to change its primary purpose into power distribution, no company can get the required experience and qualifications in just a few days. This alone shows that MMC is not technically capable to serve as the power distribution utility in Iloilo City and do not deserve to be granted a legislative franchise to operate as such,” Ocampo added.
Gerochi said the SP resolution was not endorsing any of the two franchise applications.
“Ang purpose sang sini nga resolution is to protect the consumers regardless kun sin-o man ang mahatagan sang franchise,” he stressed./PN
