Solon raises alarm over power firm’s threat to cut off electric supply in Iloilo City

Updated November 21, 2018, 4:19 PM By Ben Rosario

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/11/21/solon-raises-alarm-over-power-firms-threat-to-cut-off-electric-supply-in-iloilocity/

A senior administration congressman on Wednesday called on leaders of Congress to alert law enforcement agencies so that could prevent the Panay Electric Co. (PECO) from making good on its threat that could plunge the whole of Iloilo City in a blackout.

Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting aired the appeal as he chided PECO for allegedly trying to “blackmail” Congress into granting it a franchise by threatening to plunge the city into darkness if its demand is not met.

Tambunting said the threat was aired by PECO legal counsel Inocencio Ferrer when he allegedly threatened to cut off the operation of the power firm which currently serves the city.

According to Tambunting, Ferrer said the cutting off of power in Iloilo should be blamed on Congress for granting the franchise for distribution utility to another company.

Ferrer, Tambunting claimed, insisted that PECO, and not its competitor, can best deliver efficient power service to Iloilo City.

“Congress has decided to give the franchise to another company. A franchise is a privilege granted by Congress. We have testimonies of how PECO has been inefficient through the years,” said Tambunting, chairman of the House Committee on Games and Amusement.

Tambunting disclosed that Congress received all the complaints filed over the years by Iloilo City consumers against PECO’s penchant for overbilling its customers.
Customers also complained about dilapidated transmission facilities like decrepit electricity poles sagging and endangering residents, the low quality of public service and the consistently high electricity rates already proven by industry experts as the highest not only in the Philippines but in the entire world.

On the other hand, PECO workers have also called the attention of Congress with regards to the company’s alleged failure to pay for their overtime.

The Paranaque solon also criticized the failure of PECO to send anyone to the meeting of the Technical Working Group(TWG) created by the Senate Committee on Public Services chaired by Sen. Grace Poe to take up the transition plan for the takeover of PECO’s operation by the new utility firm More Electric and Power Corp which was granted the legislative franchise by the Senate and the House.

PECO should also know better than to threaten Congress and the national government to plunge Iloilo City into a power blackout, Tambunting said.

“PECO knows what Congress can do if they refuse to comply,” Tambunting said, as he stressed Congress could order the police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest PECO officials to compel them to participate in the preparation of the transition planning process of the Senate TWG.

“The power of Congress to exercise its functions cannot be placed on hostage by their refusal to participate in the TWG. Government also has the power of eminent domain,” he stated.