Cebu City residents asked to join "Power Off" campaign

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City residents are encouraged to turn off their lights and appliances for thirty minutes tonight and join the city government in its “Power Off” campaign.

Association of Barangay Councils president Michael Ralota said the event is their concrete statement against the proposed .40 centavo per kilowatt-hour power rate increase which he described to be an added burden to Cebu City contituents.

Ralota cited the city council’s resolution dated September 2011 supporting the Power Off campaign of various groups and individuals from 7:30 to 8 pm tonight.

He said this is the council’s way to show its support to the public clamor for changes in the power industry and the opposition to the latest proposed power cost hike.

In a letter, Ralota also respectfully requested all barangay captains to conduct information dissemination activities about the campaign and to encourage their respective constituents to turn off the lights and appliances.

Apart from being a burden to the people, Ralota said the power rate increase is very drastic.

“Dapat musuporta ta ani kay para ni sa kaayohan sa tanan,” he said.

Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon, who moved for the resolution, also called on Local Government Units to oppose their power rate hike as he revealed the city government pays not less than P100 million for electricity every year.

Dizon further said the power rate hike will also affect the delivery of basic services as this will compete with the other for their share in the budget.

To recall, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (Psalm), according to Freedom from Debt Coalition Secretary General Aaron Pedrosa, filed a petition to the Energy Regulatory Commission for the power rate increase.

FDC, a non-government organization, asked the ERC to reject the bid to increase the power rates. (FREEMAN)