Deal on museum’s P9-M debt forged

A debt servicing agreement is set to be entered into by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and the National Museum for the payment of the latter’s P9-million overdue electric bill that has already caused a recent humiliating two-day power cut off.

The compromise was reached after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) finally released funds for the payment of the museum’s power bills, albeit, on installment basis, said museum director Fr. Gabriel Casal.

"We are currently working on a restructuring of our debt. Hopefully, DBM will provide the funds as promised," Casal told The STAR.

The P9-million electric bill represents the museum’s power consumption from July to December. Casal said the country’s biggest repository of historical and cultural artifacts was not able to pay its bills simply because they were not provided the money for it.

Casal said he had to visit one government office after another to secure the release of the funds.

"I did not confront them (concerned government officials). Sometimes you get more out of cariño than confrontation," he said, explaining how he was able to save the museum from further embarrassment.

"At the end of the day you may feel good at being able to confront people but it will not solve your problem."

Power was restored to the National Museum on the night of Dec. 20, some 36 hours after electric power cables feeding its P. Burgos wing in Ermita, Manila, were cut by Meralco men. The power outage forced the museum to close down until that morning.

Yesterday, power was again reportedly cut to give way to repairs of the museum’s major circuit breaker. Casal said defects in their circuit breaker were discovered following the cutting of electricity. – Jose Aravilla