Monday, November 14, 2005

Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Making AKELCO The Best

“Aklan local government cannot stop the operation of Mirant and it will not do it,” declared Governor Carlito S. Marquez in a hurriedly organized press conference in the late afternoon of November 9, 2005. Marquez requested for a press conference held in the Governor Roberto Garcia Memorial bldg., Kalibo. Marquez expressed to the media his views regarding some statements made by the AKELCO Executive Committee in its press conference in the morning of Wednesday, November 9.
The statement, “AKELCO’s Sacrifice and Hardwork: Fake or Real?” was read by former Makato Mayor Wayne Malilay, now specialist on AKELCO matters and Member of the executive committee spoke of “a scheme to malign and saw intrigue against AKELCO… aimed to take over AKELCO management.”
The statement said, Hon. Franklin Quimpo’s in his Sangguniang Panlalawigan privilege speech recently is “bad enough for making grand conclusions out of very limited information,…its assertions are straight false”.
The Statement claimed its grand accomplishments like improving AKELCO from Class E to Class A+, the payment of loans valued at P199.5 million and the numerous awards AKELCO got are branded “Fake Achievements” by the schemers.
The Statement the former Mayor delivered claimed AKELCO incurred losses in 2004 because it was forced to pay P26 million in interest payment for NEA loans and P6.7 million in real property tax to the Aklan provincial government.
The Statement ended with “the call to the board members – consumers to expose all efforts by ill – motivated groups to saw intrigue and confusion against AKELCO…turn it to a milking cow.”
In the words of Governor Carlito S. Marquez, the local government of Aklan is investors friendly. All investors are sincerely welcomed in Aklan, but they must comply with legal orders and “no short cuts”.
“I did not ask Mirant to stop its operation of its energy generating plant, I appealed to them to comply with the requirements before its operation,” Marquez decried the allegations the local government was the number one oppositor to Mirant. “You have problems, there are recommended solutions to the problems, please comply. Do not add problems, let us solve these problems first,” Marquez explained.
Marquez was referring to the legal case DAR Aklan filed with the provincial prosecutors’ office in Kalibo, Aklan. This is about the violation Mirant allegedly committed when it constructed its power generating plant in Mabilo, New Washington, Aklan without prior approval to convert prime agricultural land for industrial use. According to Marquez, through his intervention, the land conversion certificate maybe issued

provided a P50,000.00 is paid and a certificate is submitted acknowledging its violation of the DAR law. Until today, these are not done. Why blame some one else? Also, the Certificate of Undertaking which the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is asking so that what Mirant needs from the office will be given is not complied with. “Why blame others?” Marquez asked.
As to the P6.7 million real estate tax paid to the local government of Aklan, Marquez said this was done because AKELCO has until today not registered with the Cooperative Development Authority. What cause the non registration? Marquez asked. Any assistance extended to any cooperative is unconditional. According to Marquez, Mr. Jones Arieta CDA Aklan Chief has assured AKELCO and him that Registration Certificate of Membership can be issued in AKELCO one week after application form duly filled up is submitted to his office.
There is no need for the members of AKELCO to attend trainings on Cooperative because those members have been previously attending trainings basically required to organize cooperative.
Marquez does not question the existence of the power generating plants in Nabas and New Washington, Aklan. “What I appeal to them is compliance with all local requirements. But Mirant has not even applied for a Mayor’s permit in both towns. If they have imprimatur or approval from “above”, show us”, said Marquez. “We need electric power for our development projects to move fast” said Marquez. “I sympathize with Mirant. I wish it complied with the requirement for it losses millions of pesos everyday for non–operation. Moreover, Aklan is badly in need of electricity,” Marquez confided.
That’s it, there is no scheme to take over AKELCO. It must register with CDA to have juridical personality. All the tasks made previously were done in a grand design to make AKELCO the best and instrument to develop Aklan. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com

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