FINALLY, an end to the Batangueños' misery may be in sight.
This was after the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) announced that it was looking to expand its services in Batangas province to help end the frequent brownout incidents, ensure a more reliable power supply, and support the province’s economic growth and business activities.
In a press briefing last week, Meralco senior vice president and head of distribution utility strategic partnerships, lawyer Arnel Casanova, revealed the power distributor’s plan to upgrade its services and capabilities to improve power distribution and provide more reliable electricity to communities and businesses in the province.
“We have seen Meralco’s impact in Batangas, particularly the economic development of Sto. Tomas, Batangas City, and San Pascual. These LGUs are the most progressive because of the reliability of their electricity supply. We want to do the same throughout Batangas,” said Casanova, a native of Padre Garci, Batangas
As a Batangueño, Casanova said he had experienced firsthand the frequency of brownouts as a Batelec consumer.
An infusion of additional capital and advanced technology would greatly help improve Batelec’s services and reduce brownouts throughout the province.
In the meantime, Casanova said Meralco was ready to participate in public bidding in accordance with the law. He said the company has proposed that Batelec I and Batelec II receive capital infusion and allow Meralco to invest in upgrading their systems and improving services.
Meralco is currently already servicing other provinces in the region, including Laguna, Cavite and Quezon.
Hopefully, there will be no more power outages in Batangas in the future.
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Meanwhile, it’s a different story for the power consumers down south.
Bayan Muna party-list, led by its former congressional representative Carlos Zarate, has asked the House of Representatives to start its investigation of the issues hounding South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative Inc. (Socoteco II), particularly on alleged problems with the plebiscite for its joint venture agreement (JVA) with Ignite Power and Energy Holdings Inc.
According to Zarate, they have received reports of irregularities, including supposed undue influence exerted by community leaders and the conduct of “proxy voting,” where barangay officials, health workers and purok leaders were reportedly being utilized to facilitate proxy voting and other forms of undue influence.
That, Zarate said, “is a direct assault on the democratic rights of the member-consumer-owners (MCOs) of Socoteco II.”
Socoteco II, which is gearing for privatization, has faced criticism after its board pushed for a JVA with Ignite Power, despite questions about whether the electric cooperative’s methods in securing the authority for the agreement were even proper.
The board has submitted the JVA for a plebiscite for the members’ approval.
But even before the plebiscite was conducted, South Cotabato Rep. Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles filed House Resolution 1401 last August, asking the House to check the JVA and determine whether the proposed arrangement complies with existing laws, rules, and regulations.
Bañas-Nograles’ resolution also seeks an assessment of whether the JVA will affect the rights and economic interests of the government and Socoteco’s MCOs.
According to the lawmaker, she was prompted to file the resolution following the numerous consumer complaints about the process used by Socoteco II’s board in securing authority for the proposed JVA, with the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel claiming that Resolution No. 104 was declared adopted during the cooperative’s 43rd Annual General Membership Assembly last July 25 without a duly counted vote.
On Aug. 31, Socoteco II officials said that the proposed JVA remains intact despite a recent rally opposing the deal. But on Sept. 12, it was reported that the regional trial court in Polomolok, South Cotabato has granted Socoteco’s motion to lift a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the plebiscite for the proposed JVA, effectively lifting the Sept. 4 TRO, which was initially extended to Sept. 24 — effectively affecting the plebiscite originally scheduled earlier this month.
Aside from Zarate, Bañas-Nograles, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio is also supporting calls for an investigation, saying that he understands the concerns raised by Marbel Bishop Cerilo Casicas.
Casicas, with San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, has asked Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to preventively suspend members of Socoteco II’s board of directors for pushing for a supposedly questionable agreement.
We just hope the House of Representatives and the Office of the Ombudsman act on this very urgent issue soon.