Uproar over Napocor power rate increase

Sometimes, the government itself implements moves that undercut its program to control the economic crisis. And that seems to be exactly what the National Power Corp. (Napocor) has done when it raised the per kilowatt-hour use of electricity by P1.1460.

The problem with that is that it will be passed on to consumers in the Visayas, including Negros Occidental.

That move stirred Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco who categorically stood pat against the proposed increase. So with Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia who said, without preempting the Sangguniang Panglunsod, that he believes the legislative body would also oppose it.

“The increase is untimely and sweeping. It will be a burden to everyone; it does not distinguish between the haves and have-nots,” the mayor said of the power rate increase.

Zayco asked Vice Gov. Emilio Yulo III to convince the provincial board to pass a resolution opposing the power rate hike.

“It is untimely at this time when people are reeling from the global economic crisis. The power rates should instead be lowered for individuals and other businesses to survive,” stressed Zayco.

Zayco also batted for a congressional inquiry into such a huge power rate increase by the Napocor.

Central Negros Electric Cooperative president Vincent Sabornay said the rate hike will not be imposed just by Ceneco but by electric cooperatives all over the Visayas.

This is because the Energy Regulatory Commission has authorized the Napocor to implement the provisional increase in its basic rates, Sabornay added.

The increase will take effect on Feb. 26 to March 25 and will be reflected in the electricity bills of consumers in April.

Ironically, the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Bacolod recently approved an ordinance suspending the controversial Revised Revenue Ordinance 447, which increased the taxes paid by businesses and lot owners, after a suit was filed against it.

The ordinance passed by the board headed by Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson “deferred/suspended” the implementation of the new ordinance after a howl of protests from stakeholders.

But the more devastating impact will be the Napocor rate increase. Worse, it comes at a time when the population has been laboring under the punishing impact of the global economic crisis.

It seems that the government’s left hand just doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. In this case, it can nullify all the best intentions of the national leadership to alleviate the plight of the masses and the upper class.

C’est la vie!

Negros media: Lift ROR bill

Negros media groups have banded together to oppose the Right of Reply bills and to fight for the preservation of the freedom of the press by issuing yesterday a joint resolution airing their collective stand against it.

The signatories included the Negros Press Club, Congress of Active Media Practitioners, Negros Media Council for Press Freedom, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines-Negros, City Hall Press Club, Capitol Brats, and the Council of Past Presidents of the Negros Press Club.

The Negros Press Club pointed out that its members express in unequivocal terms their opposition to the ROR bills authored by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel in the Senate and Rep. Monico Puentevella in the House. They called on both legislators to withdraw their respective bills.

They also called on the media and the people to close ranks against the passage of the ROR bills, to challenge these before the Supreme Court, if passed, and defy these by refusing compliance.

“No less than our freedoms are at stake. This is a battle we cannot afford to lose,” the resolution declared.

Even while the measure is still awaiting public debate in the House, there is a snowballing opposition against it not only by press organizations throughout the country but also by local legislative bodies.

Iloilo prosecutor stuns lawmakers

Iloilo provincial prosecutor Bernabe Dusaban recently stunned members of the House committee on dangerous drugs when he said he was unaware of a justice department circular mandating an “automatic review” of non-bailable charges being dismissed.

Dusaban shocked members of the committee, headed by Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, when he claimed that he was unaware of the existence of Circular No. 46 of 2003 until he was informed by provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada about it.

“We need to find out it if this is an honest oversight or a deliberate one,” Cuenco said.

Even Rep. Roilo Golez expressed disbelief that Iloilo, a first-class province, had been overlooked in the distribution of the circular.

Worse, this is the home-province of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr.

The committee looked into the allegations by Rep. Niel Tupas Jr. that there were several non-bailable cases downgraded to bailable by Dusaban. That also prompted Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. to suspend the release of allowances and transportation subsidies to the Iloilo prosecutor’s office.

Something has got to give with that revelation. We hope that Secretary Gonzalez and President Arroyo take a second look at such a major “mistake.”