ILOILO City – Power interruptions, some lasting as long as 13 hours, continue to inconvenience consumers and businesses here. The latest power outage, stretching for some 10 hours, started on Saturday night, eve of Father’s Day.
The growing agitation of residents has prompted Rep. Sonny Lagon of Ako Bisaya party-list to reiterate his call to the House of Representatives to look into the power distribution situation in the city.
“’Yung mga consumers ng Iloilo sana hindi sila ma-apektuhan, lalo na ngayong pandemic. Ang problema talaga ‘yung mga long brownouts,” Lagon said.
He also enjoined the Department of Energy and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to investigate this matter soonest.
“Power is not something consumers should have to worry about, especially with the pandemic right now,” he stressed.
Aside from power service interruptions, some consumers have also expressed concern over their electric bills. They have thus banded together as “Koalisyon Bantay Kuryente” to protect and advance their rights as power consumers.
Jose Allen Aquino, coalition coordinator, clarified, however, that their coverage is not just Iloilo City but the whole Panay Island.
“Brownouts long and frequent are clearly a disservice to the people in Iloilo City and elsewhere,” he stressed.
In Iloilo City, Aquino said consumers calling the office of MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) about the brownouts felt dissatisfied. He said they wanted immediate solution or action.
The coalition would also be monitoring consumer complaints regarding their bills. Aquino said they won’t discount the possibility of pressing for an investigation, too, if necessary similar to ERC billing probes conducted by the regulatory body on other power distribution utilities in the country.
Ruperto Supeña, coalition interim chairman, meanwhile disclosed that “almost 40,000 informal settlers”, especially those living along shorelines for decades, were offered instant connection for electricity but were asked to sign a waiver.
He feared for them, said Supeña. They could be at risk of being evicted from the property they’ve called home for many years, he said.
Supeña also wondered if inspections were conducted and the technical requirements properly met for these electricity service connections.
Like Congressman Lagon, Abang Lingkod party-list’s Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano is also pressing for an investigation on the power situation in Iloilo City.
“During this time of pandemic, leaders of this country and officials of agencies involved in energy must show the people of Iloilo a sense of urgency to address this matter at the soonest possible time,” Paduano said.
For his part, PHILRECA (Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association) party-list’s Rep. Presley de Jesus said brownouts not only adversely affect the health and safety of the Ilonggos but also the operation of businesses, especially MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) which form a significant chunk of the Iloilo business landscape.
“There is a need for the House Energy Committee and the ERC to look into the power situation in Iloilo to ensure the reliability and stability of the power supply and distribution there,” de Jesus said./PN
