Bayan Muna sa ERC: Meralco’s monopoly putulin

NANAWAGAN sina House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate at Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares na putulin na ang monopolyo ng Meralco, matapos atasan ng Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ang kompanya na magsagawa ng “actual meter reading.”

“Many of us suffered electric bill shock when we received our electric bills recently.  The order of ERC requiring Meralco to conduct actual meter reading before issuing electric bills is certainly welcome. This practically orders Meralco to withdraw their shockingly high bills that led to public protests. This is the result of the continuing vigilance and protest of consumers,” ayon kay Colmenares.

Binigyang diin ni Colmenares, kailangan ibalik o i-refund ng Meralco sa kanilang konsumer na nakapagbayad na ng kanilang napakataas na ‘electricity bill’ bagamat hindi dumaan  sa ‘actual meter reading.’

“Should Meralco be found to have committed market power abuse or overcharging we ask that ERC should impose fines or price control on Meralco under Section 1 [f] of the ERC “Guidelines to Govern Imposition of Administrative Sanctions” pursuant to Section 46 of EPIRA.  Whatever fines imposed must be paid by Meralco back to its customers for the damage it has caused on consumers,” giit ni Colmenares.

Ayon naman kay Rep. Zarate, ang pagiging  monopolyo ng Meralco ang dahilan ng problema kaya ang 6.9 milyong konsumer ay napipilitang ipagpatuloy ang kanilang pagtangkilik sa kabila ng maraming isyu ng paglabag ng kompanya.

“Meralco has incurred the public ire on many occasions such has its bill shock in 2013 during the Malampaya shutdown, its collection of billions in Bill Deposit payments from consumers and now this latest “electric bill shock” fiasco, but we are forced to continue having Meralco as our service provider,” anang mambabatas.

Giit ni Zarate, ang pagsasapribado sa sektor ng enerhiya sa ilalim ng Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) ang ugat ng suliranin imbes ang gobyerno ang dapat na nagkokontrol at nagmamay-ari ng public utilities gaya ng electricity distribution.

Kasabay nito, hinamon ng Bayan Muna ang mga opisyal ng ERC at Department of Energy (DOE) na simulan na ang proseso para sa pagputol ng monopolyo ng Meralco, dahil labis nang nagdurusa ang publiko sa sobrang taas ng paniningil ng kompanya at pagdaragdag pa sa kanilang bills ng mga kuwestiyonableng dagdag na bayarin.

“Congress should make the repeal of EPIRA and the nationalization of the industry as a priority as well. We hope, too, for the Supreme Court to already rule on our petition for the implementation of the Retail Competition Open Access or RCOA, which at least allows competition and gives the people the opportunity to choose their distribution utility instead of being tied up with Meralco forever. Pending the repeal of EPIRA and the charting of a new energy framework, at least the people will no longer suffer under the Meralco monopoly but will have a choice and the power to punish Meralco by changing service provider,” apela ng Deputy Minority leader.