By RALPH JOHN MIJARES
ROXAS City — The Sangguniang Panlungsod is inviting representatives from the Capiz Electric Cooperative (Capelco) and the Metro Roxas Water District (MRWD) to separate dialogues, Councilor Matthew James Viterbo said.
The two agencies will be given the chance to air their concerns, particularly their problems and their rates, and their plans in view of the expansion of business and residential areas here, he said.
The City Council will meet with Capelco on June 10 and with MRWD on June 17.
Capelco and MRWD have faced controversies recently.
Capelco had become a subject of complaint by top business leaders in the province.
It allegedly has the highest total energy charge and systems loss per charge per kilowatt-hour (kWh) among some 80 on-grid electric cooperatives in the country.
This allegation, among others, was stated in a position paper by Capiz Halaran Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Dale Bernas, Roxas City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Leny Apaitan, and Pueblo de Panay, Inc. president and chief executive officer Jose Nery Ong.
In defense, general manager Edgar Diaz had said the electric cooperative is second highest to Guimaras Electric Cooperative, Inc. in terms of residential and low-voltage consumer rates per kWh and to Iloilo I Electric Cooperative in terms of high voltage consumer rate per kWh.
Diaz said Capelco had to source power from private providers after its contract with state-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., which charged less, expired recently.
MRWD, on the other hand, has incurred a loan of P1,089,737,518.95 for its expansion and development projects. Its concessionaires have also been experiencing supply interruptions.
General manager Gonzalo Glen Delgado had clarified that they will not pass the loan payment on to their consumers.
He said the water district is trying to get a loan takeout to reduce its loan balance.
He also said they will install a 75-horsepower backup water pump to improve water pressure and were finding and fixing pipe leaks./PN
