Thursday, May 22, 2008

EDITORIAL - MAY 24, 2008 ISSUE

The Honesty of Mayor Ilio
Mayor Dominador Ilio, Jr. of Malinao is a different public official, a unique politician. He is true to his words, to his commitments. This principle of true commitment to a covenant is endearing love to Mayor Ilio and enhancing constituent commitment and loyalty to him. Ilio is honest in thoughts, in words, in deeds.
Mayor Dominador Ilio, Jr. of Malinao signed an agreement with other 16 mayors of Aklan which stipulated that they will suspend payment of electric bills to Akelco until and after Akelco management reduced its power rates. The agreement was finalized, and perfected during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Aklan meeting.
True to his commitments and in the terms he signed, Mayor Ilio never paid the town’s power bills. It reached to some P270,000.00 the sum total of the last eight (8) months unpaid account.
Last week, in view of the increasing unpaid electric power consumed, Akelco cut off power connections to the different offices of Malinao LGU. Today, the Malinao Town Hall appears like a building of 40 years ago. It is dark in the evening.
Nevertheless, Mayor Ilio is fully supported by the town officials and employees. He further learned his people in Malinao love him, support him.
Malinao has enough money to pay its electric power bills. Malinao is not bankrupt. But Malinao is true to its commitment, it has a Mayor with “words of honor”.
How about the other Municipal Mayors of Akan who are parties to that agreement? Did they back off? Their credibility, if there is still left, is at stake. Why commit and back off? Is that a threat to show off to your constituents that you have strong bones? Should Mayors not able to comply with their signed commitment, then they are just like a deboned milkfishes delicious to eat.
This decision of the officials and members of LMP Aklan came out after Akelco announced the increased power rate per Kwh as a result of the implementation of the amended Electric Power Purchase Agreement (EPPA) between Akelco and Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC). The increase rate is P2.00 plus per Kwh.
This increase elicited strong protests from the consumer – members which got the sympathy of the municipal mayors of Aklan. Is the sympathy genuine?
The amended EPPA is believed onerous so favorable to the GBPC but very disadvantageous to the consumer members. The said EPPA was also approved so swiftly accompanied with deceit. There are objectionable provisions like the exclusivity clause, the formula to be used in the computation of power rates and there is no repealing clause provision among others.
The consumer members also protest against lavish spending like the P3 million for legal counsel and the P350,000 per month management fee.
Mayor Dominador Ilio, Jr. is complying with his commitment. Will other Mayors follow him? If not, are they deboned bangus?
Congratulations, Mayor Ilio! /MP

9 comments:

Animal welfare advocate said...

It is inspiring to know that one mayor in my beloved province have the balls to stand up and represent his constituents', and the whole of Aklan's, for this matter, dismay over this unclear and unsettled issue over electric rates there. Clearly, it is not the interest of the Aklanons that is given priority here, if it is ever attended to, at all. Please let us all unite, officials of the land, especially (whose interest are you fighting for?),and resolve this grave concern quickly. I can only hope a bolt of lighting strikes everyone, our so-called leaders, especially, and enlighten their senses on this electric rates issue. Yes, we would like to ask, how genuine are your sympathy?


Kamusta eon gali rong tindahan ta Kalibo?

Greg

Anonymous said...

Hello,

I hope Madyaas Pen will list the names of the mayors who signed the manifesto.

Then we will know who stand by their word. The others will have to explain their new position.

The more people know about this situation, the less likely mayors will take back their word without explanation.

Regards,
Elmar M. Gomez

Anonymous said...

Headless chickens running. Lots of dust. No progress. Global Business Power Corporation was only invited by the government to help solve the power crises in the province. Energy experts have refrained from speaking on the issue in the hope that some common sense would prevail in the conversation but it seems that some sector do not want to understand why there is a need to increase the rates. People must understand that we must pay the true cost of power if we want to have an efficient and sustainable power industry. Aklanons can also clamor for subsidy but a subsidy is a short-term solutions. That’s been done before and it was never been sustained. The government only incurred a lot of losses. Anyway, people in Aklan have a choice. Puede silang mag form ng association o cooperative para magpatayo ng planta para malaman nila kung gaano kamahal mag invest at kung ilang taon pa bago mabawi ang investment. Ang sigurado lang ay there will always be a power shortage in Aklan because new capacity would mean higher electricity cost.

Animal welfare advocate said...

Wow! I can feel the insult a hundred miles away! Headless chickens? No progress? What can our leaders say to that?

And the point here is, if you truly believe in what you say, why hide?

So no common sense was ever practiced during the dialog? Clearly a one-sided view of a greedy capitalist (or by their dumb dummies), ei?

Animal welfare advocate said...

And may I add that you don't go to the negotiating table with your bias. Common sense says, you don't insult the ones you want to have an understanding with. Your slip is showing. You only have one thing in mind, your or your bosses interests and you want to ram it down the throat of the Aklanons! Man, what kind of understanding do you expect to get if you view the ones at the other end of the table as "headless chickens"? Pumunta ka pa sa dialog. Change your mind-set, please.

Anonymous said...

Kaya nga, mag patayo kayo ng sarili 'nyong planta! Or antos na lang kita pirme sa brownout. Sabagay ganon nga ang mangyayari dahil ro data halin sa Department of Energy nagasaad nga ro Panay Island particularly Aklan will have a severe power shortage in a very near future because investors are already indifferent and unresponsive to the appeal of the government to put up additional plant/investment in the province. Tandaan 'nyo it take five year to build a power plant. Tawag kayo sa DOE para malaman 'nyo ang tunay na power sitwasyon sa Aklan. There is no such thing as LIBRE except Inquirer Libre!

Animal welfare advocate said...

Every Aklanon, who makes end meet in an honest way, do not get free electricity. Saying that investors are not attracted to put their money in Aklan (power plant) is the product of a shallow alarmist's lazy mind. It does not make you any wiser just because you have an idea how long it'll take to build a power plant. Leaders in power are expected to find solutions for the interest of the majority and not just base their decisions on some data. To succumb to the data that your DOE shows you and allow it to influence your views of your fellow Aklanons who are clamoring for reasonable power rates (while some Php3 million of their hard-earned money are spent on getting advices and managers are paid Php350, 000 monthly)clearly shows how the Aklanons are being served; neglected and disrespected.

The word is ITERATIVE, it simply means looking for different ways/solutions.

Do not act like Chicken Little, instead, listen to your fellow Aklanon's cry and listen without bias and prejudice or go serve your gods elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

Hello,

Like Greg, I do not hide my identity. Anonymous, your comments will have more weight if you identify yourself.

Be man enough. If you have a lot to say and share, why hide?

Regards,
Elmar M. Gomez

Animal welfare advocate said...

http://www.aklan.gov.ph/index_detail.php?id_article=530&id_category=8

http://www.aklan.gov.ph/index_detail.php?id_article=535&id_category=1

(If link is unavailable automatically, copy and paste to browser)