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[av_heading heading=’RURAL UPDATE ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY JOHNNY NOVERA
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Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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ILOILO City mayor Jose Espinosa III is not agreeable to our Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) resolution opposing the renewal of the franchise of Panay Electric Company (PECO) because our power supply might be destabilized and this can disrupt the city’s progress. He said, and rightly so, that the reliability of the source of power is one of the first things that prospective investors look into in places where they wish to expand their operations.
While the SP controls the purse in a chartered city setup, in fairness to the city mayor who is the city’s top executive, our kagawads should have conferred with him first to hear his views and comments before the legislative body decided on the issue with PECO. Power supply is a vital factor that can affect business decisions of investors in the city especially at this time that we are expanding. We have partnered with PECO for many years and certainly they have certain shortcomings in their service, but we believe they can be corrected.
With respect to the refund to consumers of P124 million held by PECO, maybe it is timely to ask the power company to convert the amount to investment in their shares of stock. This will qualify the consumers for a seat in the Board and function as an Independent Director like the setup in the governing board of banks. With this we will be given a venue to participate in formulating policy decisions that can improve electric service to the population.
After taking over the reins of the city government, Mayor Espinosa has undertaken reorganization in the Office of the Mayor and in fact made new executive and staff appointments in his management team.
The implementation of new services is also being looked into especially in the promotion of peace and order and clearing of illegal structures in public places.
For new programs that the city will introduce, we presume that the new administration will request for a supplementary budget from the SP, it being less than halfway of the current budget year ending June 30, 2018.
Meanwhile, with the worsening traffic condition in Metro Manila, we wish that our readers from the metropolis will take note of the new leadership in Iloilo City under Mayor Joe Espinosa III who replaced Jed Patrick Mabilog. As the former vice mayor, there was a smooth transition of management at city hall. We therefore wish to see, too, good teamwork between the executive and the SP where Mayor Espinosa was formerly a colleague as its presiding officer.
Visitors from other places will note of better movement of traffic in the city with the widening of our roads. We invite you to come and see for yourself our outstanding growth and the new areas that we have opened which is intended for expansion of new business especially at our new Circumferential Road. (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN
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