ERC-approved hikes in Visayas Power rates worry Aquino

CEBU, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday expressed concern over the power rate hike approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for the Visayas region.

“We are focused on the Visayas. We are not sure if the rate increases are warranted,” he told stakeholders of the electronics industry during the 17th World Electronics Forum at the Shangri-La Hotel here. 

Aquino said the ERC should review the 60.60-centavo increase per kilowatt-hour (kwh) in the Visayas. 

He said the executive department and Congress would make representations with the ERC. 

The ERC approved increases in generation charges by 69.04 centavos per kwh in Luzon and 4.42 centavos per kwh in Mindanao. 

“Congress first, then also the executive (department) will be making appropriate representations with the ERC to review this particular decision. I understand Congress will be coming up with a resolution asking the ERC to actually review it,” Aquino said. 

He said this is the “temporary solution” that the government will be undertaking.

The President expressed displeasure at the way the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) failed to bring down prices of electricity.

“We are cognizant of the fact that the price of electricity in this country is a major deterrent to further investments and we are trying to accelerate the process where the benefits under the EPIRA law will be realized the soonest time possible,” Aquino added. 

Aquino also highlighted the reforms in the education sector particularly the K to 12 Program during his keynote speech in the 17th World Electronic Forum and Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc.’s 108th General Membership meeting at Shangri- La’s Mactan Island Resort in Lapu-Lapu City.

“The educational reforms we are implementing are designed to move Filipino workers higher up the value chain. The K-12 system, set to begin this June, is a long-term solution that can address our students’ global competitiveness,” Aquino said.

He said that his administration is also targeting to put systems in place to enable our workforce to supply more specialists to industries that demand them. 

He said that, the government has earmarked P50 million through TESDA’s Training for Work Scholarship Program, to train 9,295 workers from the electronics and semiconductors industry.

Aquino is thankful to the industry and said that government is boosting its efforts to improve infrastructure that would make it easier to expand business.

This move, Aquino said goes hand-in-hand with the government’s efforts to reform the bureaucracy by offering competitive incentives to electronic firms registered with investment promotion agencies.

“Over the years of doing business in my country, you have seen how this nation can struggle, and you have seen how it can unite and march towards eventual triumph. They say that Filipinos are like bamboos in the wind: we may bend against adversity, but we never break,” Aquino said.

Over 200 chief executive officers, presidents and directors of companies in the electronics industry worldwide were at the audience.

Aquino also assured, “You can continue to count on my administration’s active support for the semiconductor and electronics industries.”

Other gains

Aquino added that for the past several years, the country had been importing rice, but after only two years under his administration, the agriculture sector has been producing high variety of rice. He said that by this year, the country will be exporting rice.

Not all happy

While the electronics and semiconductor sectors were all smiles with Aquino’s presence in their event, his first visit in Cebu for this year, was marred with disappointment by two sectors — the local hog industry and the media.

“Nasagmuyo gyud mi kay he cancelled his schedule with us on the last minute. Wa sad mi kahibalo ug ngano,” (we really felt bad because he cancelled his schedule with us on the last minute. We also do not know why) Rolando Tambago, president of Central Visayas Pork Producers told the The FREEMAN.

Tambago said that they wanted the president to come to their three-day Hogs Convention that started the other day at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandue City.

Tambago said that they need Aquino’s presence since they are alarmed by the proliferation of smuggled imported meat that is now being sold in the local market at a price much lower than the locally-produced meat. 

Aside from the pork industry sector, the media covering the event in Lapu-Lapu City also felt bad after the planned press conference was scrapped.

The President arrived at around 12:30 in the afternoon at the said event and left 2:30 p.m. after a meeting with the top officials of WEF and SEIP at the adjacent building, near the hotel’s ballroom.

Several local politicians were also seen in the area like Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, who said that the President is optimistic on the tourism potential of the city. —/NLQ (FREEMAN)