Iloilo Energy Summit sa Jaro, binuwisit ng brownout

NAKATUTUWA ang Iloilo Renewable Energy Summit na inorganisa ng Murang Kuryente Party-list at itinaguyod ng Archdiocese of Jaro sa Archbishop’s Residence, biro mong nasa kainitan ng diskusyon nitong Marso 22 nang biglang magkaroon ng 10-minutong brownout.

Kabilang sa mga naistorbo ng brownout ang mga kinatawan ng Department of Energy (DOE), kompanyang pang-enerhiya na MORE and WeGen, civil society groups gayondin ang mga tagakonsumo at komunidad ng Iloilo.

“Even in an event attended by power distributors, we are not spared the power interruption. This just goes to show how broken the electrical system is in Iloilo and the rest of the country, despite us paying sky-high rates to electric companies,” sabi nga ni Gerry Arances, Murang Kuryente Party-list nominee at tagapagsalita sa summit.

Ang Iloilo sa kasalukuyan ang may pina­kamataas na presyo ng koryente sa Filipinas, isang bansang pumapangalawa sa power rates sa Japan sa buong Asya kahit palpak at hindi maaasahan ang sistemang elektrikal.

Ipinatawag ang summit dahil sa mga problema sa sektor ng enerhiya sa Western Visayas, partikular sa Iloilo City.

“There has always been tension between electric cooperatives and member-consumers here in Iloilo. The lack of sincerity in consulting member-consumers in rate adjustments and other important processes have been largely unfavorable to us,” diin ni WV Hidlawanay Cooperative Vice Chairman Wilfredo Ortiz na nagsalita para sa mga tagakonsumo.

Pinuna rin ni Ortiz ang panukala ng PHILRECA, isang samahan ng electric cooperatives sa buong bansa, na ipasa sa mga consumer ang real property tax ng electric cooperatives, na pangunahing sanhi ng tensiyon.

“PHILRECA’s proposal to the ERC shows that there is a divide between the interest of the EC and ours as consumers,” diin ni Ortiz. “If ECs are really controlled and managed by the member-con­sumers as was intended by law, they would work towards lessening the cost borne for by consu­mers.”

“The primary con­sideration, always, is the consumer. They need electricity, but they must never be held hostage by vested in­terests due to this need,” pali­wanag ni Aran­ces kaugnay sa papel ng Murang Kur­yen­te Party-list sa pagtitipon.

Ang Murang Kuryente Party-list, binubuo ng energy advo­cates na may mahabang kasay­sayan sa pagtatanggol sa interes ng mga consumer ang laging humahamon at kumu­kuwestiyon sa pagtatangka ng distribution utilities at electric companies na magtaas ng presyo kahit mahinang klase ang kanilang serbisyo.

“Murang Kuryente Party-list is here because this event is a model of how we can ensure affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all Filipinos – stakeholders working together to develop solutions favorable to all,” dagdag ni Arances.

“Murang Kuryente is ready to do whatever is necessary to force power companies to do what they are supposed to do – provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to the public. We are willing to talk to them in a forum like this, or we can bring the fight for consumers to other arenas.”

Kumilos  ang Murang Kuryente Party-list at iba pang grupo na hadlangan ang panukala ng PHILRECA na magtaas ng presyo kaya ipinatigil ng Energy Regulation Commission (ERC) ang pagdinig.

Ang Murang Koryente Party-list din ang kumukuwestiyon sa kadudadudang maintenance schedules ng MERALCO at rate adjustments nito gayondin ang pagtutol ng kompanya na ilabas ang pondo para sa refund ng mga consumer base sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema.

ABOT-SIPAT
ni Ariel Dim Borlongan