Gwen scolds Cebeco for playing favorites

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia reprimanded the top executive of the Cebu Electric Cooperative (Cebeco) over exceptions granted to "sacred cows."

This after around 100 members of the Katawhan alang sa Barato nga Kuryente (KABAK-Cebeco II) led by their spokesman, Edward Ligas, went to Capitol and sought the help of the governor in this regard yesterday noon.

In a position paper presented to the governor signed by Ligas and KABAK-Cebeco II president Ruben Degamo, the group alleged that the cooperative favored some people and businesses, including radio station dyCM owned by the Martinezes in Bogo town, in implementing the notice of disconnection.

Degamo said that Cebeco officials turned deaf ears on their pleas that they be given a grace period of 10 days, adding that notice of disconnection are implemented within three days upon receipt of such as against the leeway implemented to some business establishments in the area, including the said radio station. This has allegedly been the practice for three year now.

Ligas said an insider in Cebeco II was able to go through its records indicating that dyCM has incurred a total P162,000 in electrical bills since October 2005 but that notice of disconnection was only served last February 16.

This was confirmed by Cebeco manager Ed Satina, who told the governor that they have not implemented the said disconnection notice to the radio outlet because of a transaction they entered with it.

That is, Cebeco II purchased airtime from the said radio station but it turned out that the latter charged higher for their airtime so that they instead agreed that the said airtime bills be charged against the electrical bills that they would have had to collect from dyCM.

"I had always looked up to Cebeco for being the epitome of a well-run enterprise that follows good management practice. So I cannot understand why you're talking about pakang-pakang because that is something that happens in a sari-sari store, not in a Cebeco enterprise," she told Satina over the phone.

She pointed out "pakang-pakang" is not a good business or accounting practice.

The governor said mere questioning of the high airtime rate of dyCM is not enough justification for deferment in the implementation of the disconnection notice, else the same rule would have been applied to ordinary or household consumers by simple analogy.

But because Satina apparently could not answer the question of the governor whether or not Cebeco will apply its policy fairly and equally to all its clients, Garcia just told him that she is going to send her "strongly worded letter" to Satina, hoping that they will correct their "strange policy."

By saying that she would take the plight of the affected ordinary consumers, the governor also promised to make a formal representation to former Cebeco president and present National Electrification Administration administrator Fr. Francisco "Paking" Silva on the complaints of the group.

KABAK member got irked after Silva allegedly failed to face them in a rally held earlier infront of Patria de Cebu where the main office of Cebeco is located yesterday morning. Its members participating in the rally yesterday came from the towns of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon and Sogod.

In a talk with the governor, Ligas alleged that this unfair policy implemented under the leadership of Satina is in compliance with the advice of Silva. - Cristina C. Birondo