ILOILO City – Panay Electric Company (PECO) won’t get the chance to make a presentation at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) for as long as he is the majority floor leader, according to Councilor Plaridel Nava.
The sole power distributor in this city for 95 years forfeited the opportunity to be heard when it rejected the SP’s summons last year, he stressed.
PECO wrote a letter expressing interest to appear before the city council after rival MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) on Nov. 26 made a presentation of its plans and programs as incoming new power distributor.
“I don’t think there is urgency (or) necessity for PECO to appear here,” Nava said.
He did not include PECO’s letter in the SP’s agenda yesterday.
PECO’s franchise expires on Jan. 19, 2019. It applied for a renewal but its franchise bill remains stuck in the House Legislative Franchises Committee. MORE Power’s, on the other hand, got the nod of the House and Senate.
“Para sa akon wala na, (PECO) is already done. It is already finished. Waay man gadalagan ila franchise application. Ano ang gusto nila i-explain sa amon?” said Nava.
Only his ouster as majority floor leader could possibly give PECO a chance to make a presentation at the SP, said Nava, or if it manages to secure a renewed franchise.
“Maski (approval) sa Lower House na lang, we may want to hear what it wants to say, or if indi pagpirmahan sang Presidente ang iya sang MORE Power kag mahambal ang President ibalik sa PECO. But not this time, there is no urgency,” he said.
Councilor Julie Grace Baronda previously said city councilors wanted to hear PECO’s presentation, too, so they could weigh things and come up with a learned opinion.
“May ara abi ginhambal ang MORE about PECO. Ti gusto anay namon mabal-an how true. For example, taas kuno ang rate sang PECO pero may mga news articles man nga indi kuno taas. Gusto namon mabal-an akon ano gid man bala ang tuod,” said Baronda.
Reached for his reaction, PECO corporate communications officer Mikel Afzelius said he respects the personal opinion of Nava.
“Of course, if the city councilors would want PECO to be there, definitely we can go there not just to present but also to clarify certain matters. I think this is for the best interest of the city also,” said Afzelius.
According to Afzelius, their presentation would include updates on their accomplishments presented last year.
“More than that, it could be a dialogue or conference with the council regarding the power reliability sa city, especially with the franchise dispute still ongoing. Matters that they may want to ask regarding the presentation of MORE Power pwede man namon i-clear up,” Afzelius added./PN
