Is Akelco Lover of An Angel?
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan has urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to conduct its public or formal hearing in Kalibo, Aklan instead of in Metro Manila on June 29, 2005 on the petition of AKELCO regarding the approval of the Electric Power Purchase Agreement (EPPA). The public hearing will also take up the corresponding amendments AKELCO entered into with Mirant Global Corporation (MGC) governing the operations of the MGC power plants in Nabas and New Washington, Aklan.
To recall, AKELCO as buyer and MGC as seller entered into an EPPAs to govern the operations of MGC’s 7.5 MW power plant in Nabas and 5 MW power plant in New Washington, Aklan on October 1, 2003. On August 3, 2004 both AKELCO and MGC signed an amended EPPAs for both power plants in Nabas and New Washington. The ERC conducted a public hearing in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan on May 27, 2005 on the EPPAs. However, only very few was able to attend the said public hearing as there was no adequate and wide dissemination of information on the salient points of the said EPPAs.
The Resolution No. 05 – 195 was sponsored by Hon. Gerick M. Templonuevo and unanimously approved during the SP regular session on June 1, 2005. It was also approved by Governor Carlito S. Marquez.
Why hold the public hearing in a place so remote for the people concerned to participate? so expensive to visit? and so tedious to travel to attend such public hearing? This is an example of a PGMA project for which it will be implemented for the benefit of the people but in its planning and decision making, the people are prevented from participation.
Is AKELCO really for the people? of the people? and by the people? Is AKELCO in Metro Manila? Is ERC for businessmen so that the wealthy will become wealthiest? And the poor will remain poor? By holding the public hearing in Metro Manila, ERC will be depriving the Aklanons to participate on matters that concern them, to know matters that concern them and to decide things for them.
For sure, ERC officials who were in Boracay on May 27 public hearing enjoyed their stay and collected fabulous travel expenses. For sure, if the request of the SP Aklan is granted, ERC officials attending the hearing will be collecting traveling expenses and even hazard pay in a peaceful Kalibo, Aklan. And these are at people’s expense. For an ordinary AKELCO member consumer who wishes to attend the hearing in Metro Manila, who will reimburse his expenses?
The trio, Atty. Romeo Inocencio, Mr. Rodson Mayor and Hon. Ramon Gelito at their own initiative went to Boracay on May 27, 2005 and registered their strong opposition to the EPPAs. If not for their opposition, the ERC could have favorably considered the “urgent ex – parte motion, for issuance of provisional authority” filed by AKELCO.
It is strange to know why AKELCO, the buyer of power from Mirant, the seller have filed the petition with ERC so that they will be permitted to pay at much higher cost the electricity AKELCO buys from Mirant Philippines.
It is strange to learn from AKELCO that there will be power interruptions, outages and inadequacy of power supply. Did Transco President Alan T Ortiz said that “Once these projects (Cebu – Negros – Panay upgrading project) are completed by early 2006, the Visayas Region can expect more than adequate supply of power.” Is this deception?
Are the AKELCO Board of Directors and management officials part of Mirant Philippines projects in New Washington and Nabas, Aklan? Maybe not, but if yes, they can be lovers of two: an angel and a devil. /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
To recall, AKELCO as buyer and MGC as seller entered into an EPPAs to govern the operations of MGC’s 7.5 MW power plant in Nabas and 5 MW power plant in New Washington, Aklan on October 1, 2003. On August 3, 2004 both AKELCO and MGC signed an amended EPPAs for both power plants in Nabas and New Washington. The ERC conducted a public hearing in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan on May 27, 2005 on the EPPAs. However, only very few was able to attend the said public hearing as there was no adequate and wide dissemination of information on the salient points of the said EPPAs.
The Resolution No. 05 – 195 was sponsored by Hon. Gerick M. Templonuevo and unanimously approved during the SP regular session on June 1, 2005. It was also approved by Governor Carlito S. Marquez.
Why hold the public hearing in a place so remote for the people concerned to participate? so expensive to visit? and so tedious to travel to attend such public hearing? This is an example of a PGMA project for which it will be implemented for the benefit of the people but in its planning and decision making, the people are prevented from participation.
Is AKELCO really for the people? of the people? and by the people? Is AKELCO in Metro Manila? Is ERC for businessmen so that the wealthy will become wealthiest? And the poor will remain poor? By holding the public hearing in Metro Manila, ERC will be depriving the Aklanons to participate on matters that concern them, to know matters that concern them and to decide things for them.
For sure, ERC officials who were in Boracay on May 27 public hearing enjoyed their stay and collected fabulous travel expenses. For sure, if the request of the SP Aklan is granted, ERC officials attending the hearing will be collecting traveling expenses and even hazard pay in a peaceful Kalibo, Aklan. And these are at people’s expense. For an ordinary AKELCO member consumer who wishes to attend the hearing in Metro Manila, who will reimburse his expenses?
The trio, Atty. Romeo Inocencio, Mr. Rodson Mayor and Hon. Ramon Gelito at their own initiative went to Boracay on May 27, 2005 and registered their strong opposition to the EPPAs. If not for their opposition, the ERC could have favorably considered the “urgent ex – parte motion, for issuance of provisional authority” filed by AKELCO.
It is strange to know why AKELCO, the buyer of power from Mirant, the seller have filed the petition with ERC so that they will be permitted to pay at much higher cost the electricity AKELCO buys from Mirant Philippines.
It is strange to learn from AKELCO that there will be power interruptions, outages and inadequacy of power supply. Did Transco President Alan T Ortiz said that “Once these projects (Cebu – Negros – Panay upgrading project) are completed by early 2006, the Visayas Region can expect more than adequate supply of power.” Is this deception?
Are the AKELCO Board of Directors and management officials part of Mirant Philippines projects in New Washington and Nabas, Aklan? Maybe not, but if yes, they can be lovers of two: an angel and a devil. /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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