Ambrosio R. Villorente
Akelco Must Reflect Profit in Power Bill NAPOCOR Must Pay Use of Land
My Akelco electric power bill for the period Oct. 19 to November 19, 2008 amounts to P1,136.53 for the 135 kwh used. Examining the bill, I noticed there are four (4) kinds of charges and each kind of charge has some sub charges. One item is “Transmission System Charge” which is P1.17 per kwh. Another charge is “Distribution System Charge” which is P1.06 per kwh. What is the difference between transmission charge and distribution charge? This is not enough. Akelco still collects “supply system charge” at P0.55 per kwh. There are several kinds of charges for only one commodity – Electricity.
Moreover, read farther until you come across the item “Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT),” where it cost P0.13 per kwh for transmission and at P0.12 per kwh for distribution.
But for one thing, why will Akelco compel the consumers to pay system loss? This is the inefficiency of management. And at how much? It cost P0.78 per kwh, plus P0.05 EVAT. These are charges buyers had nothing to do, but AKELCO.
According to a source in Akelco, the transmission system charge goes to National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR). How did NAPOCOR arrive to charge and collect P1.17 per kwh? This is worth explaining. Moreover, NAPOCOR has been using private lands and has not been paying rental fee for the use of the land. Not only that, NAPOCOR has cut down fruit trees without paying the owners. It has been depriving them the use of portion of their real properties. They have also been deprived of the products of their crops.
NAPOCOR must pay as compensation of trees it cut. It must also pay just rental fee to the land owners where its lines pass. Otherwise, NAPOCOR has no right to collect transmission system charge.
While different charges are reflected in the Akelco electric power bill, I have yet to see any mark-up in it. I suggest to include in the bill an estimated moderate mark-up or profit. How can an electric power distributor continue serving the clients without any profit? Akelco management must inform the owner – consumers how much per kwh Akelco gains.
State of Disrepair
Kalibo, Aklan is in the state of disrepair. Is it due to Typhoon Frank? No, it is not. Perhaps, the municipality lacks money to put the town in shape. Most of the streets in Poblacion, Kalibo is gloomy for electric bulbs are busted. Kalibo bridge is dark. There is no electricity. Even during short drizzle, parts of Kalibo are flooded. Example is D. Maagma Street.
Yes, Metro Kalibo Water District (MKWD) is burying pipes in Poblacion, Kalibo. This has been going on since several months ago. The digging is on-going. MKWD just put flatted iron on road intersections to ease traffic. But will MKWD put back in shape the roads that it dug before the Christmas 2008 season and the Kalibo Sto. Niño Ati-Atihan 2009 season? If not, let it not be said that MKWD destroyed the roads of Kalibo.
Impeachment
Complaint Destination Is Garbage
The fourth impeachment for Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was voted out by the Justice Committee in the House of Representatives. The Impeachment was “sufficient in form” but “insufficient in substance”.
Only eight (8) members of the Justice Committee voted “yes” but 42 voted “no”. The impeachment complaint was thrown to the compost pit.
It was futile debating with the issues presented for those who acted on it did not consider reasons but political affiliation in voting on it. The impeachment proceeding was just to follow the process. The impeachment complaint was destined to the compost pit.
Water For Rice Fields
To really effect increase of production of palay per unit area is to provide adequate water supply for the rice crop. The hybrid seeds, fertilizer and other production inputs will just be wasted if there is no water in the rice paddies. Rice is a water loving plant. It is hydrophonic. According to a rice scientist, to produce one kilogram of palay, 5,000 kilograms of water is necessary.
This quantity of water must be provided the ricefield during land preparation, during planting, and vegetative growth maintained until grain initiation. Water is removed only during its ripening stage.
Standing rice crop with enough water is more likely free from weeds. Crops without weeds are seldom attacked by pests and diseases. Hence, the crops are healthy. Recommended farm practices are easily followed in rice paddies if there is water. Even fertilizer will be effective in rice crops with water. Applying fertilizer in dry land will just be wasted for nutrients will not be dissolved and made available to the rice plants unless the fertilizer is dissolved first in water before its application.
SK In Farming
According to the records, Filipino farmers are growing old every year. This is one of the reasons why farm production is decreasing every year. Their average age now is 59 years.
In any business enterprise such as agri-business, the most important factor of production is personnel. All other factors of production cannot be utilized to its maximum if the personnel involved in its utilization are not the best and the brightest.
Can we expect an aged person to withstand inclement weather condition in the management of his crops like rice, vegetable or livestock? He cannot go out and resist climate change to protect his crop.
Farming must be handled by one who is the best and the brightest, farming being a multi discipline activities. A rice farmer must be biologist for rice has life. Rice needs fertilizer and other chemicals to prevent the attack and spread of weeds, pests and diseases. A farmer must know accounting to compute his investment, income, profit and/or losses. Hence, our farmers must know at least a little of many things in farming. But who will replace them to manage Philippine farms? Probably the best and the brightest? This question is addressed to the DepEd, CHED and other youth development agencies. This question is addressed to parents to develop favorable attitude toward farming and fishing.
No comments:
Post a Comment