by RICHIE D. OLOROSO
The Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) expressed strong opposition of the Aklanons against the petition of the Power Sector Asset and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to charge all electricity consumers of the unpaid debts of the now defunct National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) which is reportedly at several hundreds billions of pesos. The opposition is expressed in Resolution No. 2011-253.
Sponsored by Board member Selwyn C. Ibarreta, the SP stressed in the said resolution that approval of the petition of PSALM by the ERC is tantamount to yielding to the crooked idea. It is unfair to pay or recover from the electricity consumers the debts, the liabilities, losses and subsidies incurred by the then NAPOCOR due to mismanagement, wrong national government policy and the miscarriage of the true intent of privatizing the energy sector, and in the sale of its assets.
PSALM’s petition with ERC is docketed as Case No. 2011-092 RC filed on June 25, 2011. PSALM has sought provisional authority from the ERC to immediately implement by charging and collecting from the electricity consumers starting this year.
Stranded debts refer to any financial obligations of the NAPOCOR which have not been liquidated by the proceeds from the sales and privatization of the NAPOCOR assets.
Power Aklan Chief Convenor, lawyer Romeo Inocencio, said why should the Filipino people be punished for the inefficiency and mismanagement of the then state owned giant electric corporation?
Inocencio said then the proposal/petition is not only irrational but also oppressive as PSALM had sold NAPOCOR assets at virtually giveaway prices. /MP
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