Tuesday, July 12, 2016

DOE asks Meralco: Give priority to poor consumers



July 8, 2016 12:51 am  by VOLTAIRE PALAÑA Reporter

THE new Department of Energy (DOE) chief will prioritize the marginalized community as part of the mandate to bring 100 percent electrification in the country.
“Let us service the people who need our help most, such as those in Smokey Mountain, Payatas and Muntinlupa,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said in a meeting on Thursday with Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) president Oscar Reyes.
“These are the people President Rodrigo Duterte promised to serve,” Cusi noted.
He also discussed with Meralco officials their pre-paid electricity service, which targets the poorest of the poor to have access to electricity.
Cusi urged to Meralco to check on the “relocation sites because these are potential fire hazards.”
“Let us not wait for the local government units to resolve problems. Let us help especially the marginalized. I want the general public to feel that the government is doing something to better their lives by providing adequate electricity with lower rates so they will be able to afford other necessities, such as more food on the table,” he said.
For his part, Reyes said they intend to give primary concern to those who have asked the DOE for assistance.
“I will let my team coordinate with you [Meralco] and let’s have weekly meetings. Let us coordinate also for disaster preparedness, initiate a joint task force especially now being the rainy season,” said Secretary Cusi.
The new energy chief expressed gratitude to the Meralco president for their cooperation and concluded with a message, “Para sa maliliit na tao ang meeting na ito [This meeting is for the ordinary people].”

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