Another Deception
On March 24, 2008, Mr. Chito R. Peralta sent a letter to the Sang-guniang Bayan (SB) of Kalibo. The same letter was also sent to the Sangguniang Panlala-wigan (SP) of Aklan. The said letter requested to “kindly issue a certification in the official letterhead of this office (SB Kalibo or SP Aklan) and stamped with your official seal (sample certification is hereto attached) to show that this Honorable office has been duly furnished a copy of the aforesaid application”.
Attached with the letter is “Akelco’s application for approval of over-all tariff adjustment, with prayer for issuance of provisional authority and its attachments in hard copy.”
As I read the request, Akelco general manager simply needs acknowledgment that indeed the SB Kalibo and SP Aklan are duly informed, that they are furnished copy of the “application for approval of over-all tariff-adjustment.”
I asked Hon. Elverita Templonuevo if she has received similar letter and she replied, “NONE”. If the municipality of Numancia was not given a copy of such tariff adjustment request, is it possible that the 15 other towns are not requested to acknowledge receipt of such application?
Attached with the letter is “Akelco’s application for approval of over-all tariff adjustment, with prayer for issuance of provisional authority and its attachments in hard copy.”
As I read the request, Akelco general manager simply needs acknowledgment that indeed the SB Kalibo and SP Aklan are duly informed, that they are furnished copy of the “application for approval of over-all tariff-adjustment.”
I asked Hon. Elverita Templonuevo if she has received similar letter and she replied, “NONE”. If the municipality of Numancia was not given a copy of such tariff adjustment request, is it possible that the 15 other towns are not requested to acknowledge receipt of such application?
Tariff Adjustment Application
Going over the tariff adjustment application, I was proven wrong. I thought some adjustments are to reduce electric power rate and some items maybe adjusted higher. However, all the adjustment is adjustment upward. This is another “Deception”. Why use the term adjustment and not rate increase for clarity?
The application “in the matter of the application for approval of the over-all tariff adjustment, with prayer for issuance of provisional authority” is of 10 pages signed by two lawyers in Pasig City, Metro Manila on March 17, 2008. It was verified and certified of “non forum shopping” by affiant Paterno Ibarreta on March 17, 2008 and subscribed and sworn to before Notary Public Saykeme Molino – Martelino on March 17, 2008 in Kalibo, Aklan, a very quick process. No signature is found among the other nine (9) pages.
Of the 10 pages, eight (8) revealed the electricity customer classes, the existing rates, proposed rates and the price differences. Sad to say, all those portrayed are increases and no decrease. For residential, small commercial, industrial, street lights and large commercial, the respective rates are increased.
While Akelco proposes the rate increase to respond to implement the salary standard of employees, cost of operation and maintenance, and debt servicing, it failed to present data to justify the rate increases. Data regarding the cost of Akelco operation and debt services are not presented. Consumer members who are accepted owners must be informed of Akelco cost of operation and distribution of electric power. Any rate increase must be mutually acceptable to both seller and buyers especially of public utility matter like electricity which Akelco monopolizes being the franchisee.
Is there any Akelco Board approval on the said rate adjustment application? If none, who authorized the general manager Chito R. Peralta and Mr. Paterno Ibarreta to file such application with the Energy Regulatory Commission?
The application “in the matter of the application for approval of the over-all tariff adjustment, with prayer for issuance of provisional authority” is of 10 pages signed by two lawyers in Pasig City, Metro Manila on March 17, 2008. It was verified and certified of “non forum shopping” by affiant Paterno Ibarreta on March 17, 2008 and subscribed and sworn to before Notary Public Saykeme Molino – Martelino on March 17, 2008 in Kalibo, Aklan, a very quick process. No signature is found among the other nine (9) pages.
Of the 10 pages, eight (8) revealed the electricity customer classes, the existing rates, proposed rates and the price differences. Sad to say, all those portrayed are increases and no decrease. For residential, small commercial, industrial, street lights and large commercial, the respective rates are increased.
While Akelco proposes the rate increase to respond to implement the salary standard of employees, cost of operation and maintenance, and debt servicing, it failed to present data to justify the rate increases. Data regarding the cost of Akelco operation and debt services are not presented. Consumer members who are accepted owners must be informed of Akelco cost of operation and distribution of electric power. Any rate increase must be mutually acceptable to both seller and buyers especially of public utility matter like electricity which Akelco monopolizes being the franchisee.
Is there any Akelco Board approval on the said rate adjustment application? If none, who authorized the general manager Chito R. Peralta and Mr. Paterno Ibarreta to file such application with the Energy Regulatory Commission?
Akelco Snubs Sanggunian
The SP Aklan invited Akelco to attend its session in the morning of April 10, 2008 just to respond to some clarificatory questions regarding the Tariff Adjustment application. Nobody attended from Akelco. Likewise, the SB Kalibo invited Akelco representatives to attend its session in the afternoon of Thursday, April 10. They were snubbed. /MP
1 comment:
Congratulations to the winners.
This is a very good undertaking. It is very good that the search should be announced way in advanced. May I suggest that during the awarding ceremoney on 25 April 2008, the timetable for next year's search should already be announced.
The selection criteria and weights should be known in advanced too so that the public can help in convincing deserving candidates to join.
With earlier and wider announcement, the higher probability of discovering diamonds.
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