ILOILO City – The supposed scheduled appearance of Panay Electric Company (PECO) before the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) tomorrow won’t push through.
During the SP’s regular session yesterday, Councilor Plaridel Nava said Councilor Armand Parcon’s invitation for PECO to make a presentation at the SP did not go through the right process – there was no motion from the council to accommodate PECO.
Parcon wanted PECO to update the SP about its application for franchise renewal, among others.
PECO’s franchise is expiring on Jan. 19, 2019. It asked Congress to renew the franchise but its application remained stuck in the House’s Legislative Franchises Committee.
According to Nava, PECO should first write the SP expressing its intent to make a presentation just like what its rival More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) did.
On Monday, MORE Power presented to the SP its plans and programs for the city as new power distribution utility in the metro.
MORE Power applied for a power distribution franchise and on Monday the Senate approved it on third and final reading.
PECO, however, claimed the approval was railroaded. It also belittled MORE Power’s capability as an electricity distributor.
PECO’s letter reached the SP only after yesterday’s session.
“Indi madayon sa Thursday,” said Nava.
Parcon said the SP must hear PECO’s side for the sake of fairness. But Nava said no councilor on his own has the power to make such initiative.
“Let the collegial body decide. Indi ka ‘ya pwede mag-conduct public hearing kag committee hearing without prior permission and authority from the Sanggunian. Paagyon mo gid sa konseho. If the council agrees, ang initiative mo will follow,” said Nava.
Nava said the SP will tackle PECO’s letter on their next session on Dec. 4.
PECO requested for a conference with the city councilors on either Dec. 3 or Dec. 4.
Parcon said the SP needed to hear assurances from PECO regarding the city’s power supply.
PECO, the sole power distributor in this city for nearly a century, is not giving up its franchise area without a fight.
“We will go to the Supreme Court. We will use all legal remedies available,” said its legal counsel Inocencio Ferrer.
MORE Power plans to take over PECO’s power distribution assets.
“Mabato kami ‘ya…Wala sila assets. Kun mahatagan man sila franchise sa January, ano ubrahon nila kay indi kami ‘ya maghatag voluntarily sang amon assets,” said Ferrer.
According to Parcon, it does not really matter if the power distribution utility in this city is MORE Power or PECO.
“Ang importante maserbisyuhan ang tawo, quality service, steady power supply, reasonable rates, and efficient service,” said Parcon.
Ferrer questioned the constitutionality of MORE Power’s franchise bill which grants PECO’s rival powers to expropriate.
“This unqualified and ill-equipped entity will not only be granted a franchise despite its lack of qualifications; it will also be granted the power to expropriate any and all properties of its competitor, PECO, in clear violation of the latter’s enshrined constitutional rights,” said Ferrer.
He warned that the franchise bill would allow MORE to expropriate properties for vague and overbroad reasons such as “the efficient maintenance and operation of services” and to “acquire such private property as is actually necessary for the realization of the purposes for which this franchise is granted.”
Ferrer said MORE Power’s plan to expropriate all the assets of PECO once it is granted a franchise would fail.
“PECO will avail itself of all legal remedies to ensure that this will not take place,” he said./PN
