Hole of Justice
By Peter G. Jimenea
Unpardonable Selfishness!
I am one of those who favor the
putting up of a coal-fired power plant in Iloilo City. I was enticed by the
promise of the management that once it becomes operational, the price of
electricity will be reduced by P2 per kwh.
The Global Business Corporation
(GBC), owner of the Coal-Fired Power Plant and the Panay Energy Development
Corporation (PEDC) that manage the full operation of the business have attested
to this pledge.
But after a year, PEDC officials filed
a petition for Under Recovery Collection of the P698.2M alleged losses with the
Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). This is to be charged against the consumers account without
the public getting wind of it.
The alleged P698.2M losses has incurred
during the emission and other testing operation of the coal-fired power plant. The
petition seeks that this amount will be gradually added as increase to the Panay
Electric Company’s (PECO) billing to consumers. The ERC granted the petition
and the P698.2M is now a consumers’ headache for the next five years!
This is not what we think the ERC
business is all about. Energy officials approved the rate increase so hastily
as if passengers catching the last plane out. It creates an impression without
affirming the perception that the approval of the petition is in exchange for -
you know what!
The ERC officials should know that it
is only for them, the greedy stockholders and government crooks that what they
did is good. Losses in the operation are part of the risks in a business
venture that should be charged from the capital of investors, not from
consumers’ pocket!
If the losses are true as PEDC
officials claimed to have incurred, the consumers have nothing to do with it. So
why charged them that P698.2M when they have not even used that energy? Profit
and Loss are parts of the business venture of the investors, not of consumers!
What’s more, PEDC petition was
approved by ERC since December 2011, then what caused the delay to send a copy
to the city government which it received only in June this month? Why did PEDC officials
fail to send a copy of the ERC approved petition to our city officials on time?
Again, the increase in our electric bills
for the past three months is suspicious. Is the Under Recovery Collection of
PEDC already start without the public getting wind of it? It surprised us , but
the law says; nemu punitor pro alieno delicto – no one is punished for the crime
of another!
A promised cheap power by GBC has lasted
only for about three months. Now officials are rebounding back pounding the consumers’
pocket for every chance they get. Falsus
in uno, falsus in omnibus – he who has lied about one thing is most likely
to lie about everything. (Ramos vs. CA, 188 SCRA 450).
ERC officials are widely believed to
have succumbed to temptation of greed in this case. We had been treated before by
companies with selfish stockholders and officers colluding with government
officials at the expense of the public. What is somewhat missing in the empty
lives of these people is to die with dignity!
It is written though, qui peccat ebrius luat sobrius – he who
offends when drunk shall be punished when sober. Deliberate charging of the
P698.2M company’s losses to the poor consumers is injustice that cries to God
for punishment. As to contrition for this misdeed, apology not accepted!
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