Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star)
- October 1, 2018 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The husband of
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has opposed the move of a House committee to
grant a power franchise to a mining company seeking to replace a local electric
cooperative in Iloilo.
Lawyer Manases Carpio, who
represents Panay Electric Co. (PECO) which has been providing power to
Iloilo for the past 95 years, said More Minerals Corp. (MMC) is not entitled to
a power franchise, especially if the grant is done “without due
diligence.”
“We respectfully request your
committee to hold in abeyance its approval of the franchise application of the
MMC under House Bill (HB) 8132 until after more public hearings with proper
invitations to attend and adequate notice are given to all stakeholders,”
Carpio said in a letter dated Sept. 24 to Palawan Rep. Franz Josef
Alvarez.
He said this is the best way to
serve the public interest as the committee determines which of the franchise
applicants deserves its nod.
Alvarez is chairman of the House
committee on legislative franchises.
Carpio said the PECO objects to
the alleged haste and lack of justification the panel showed to favor
MMC’s HB 8132 over HB 6023, which endorsed the renewal of PECO’s franchise.
HB 6023 was filed by Camiguin Rep.
Xavier Jesus Romualdo in July 2017 while MMC’s HB 8132 was filed by Parañaque
Rep. Gus Tambunting – chairman of the committee on games and amusement – in
August this year.
Executives and employees of the PECO
were reportedly shocked when the Alvarez panel endorsed on Sept. 17 the
grant of a power franchise to MMC.
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