MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City council has approved a resolution requesting the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to “condone†blacklisted consumers and enable them to re-subscribe to the utility provider upon payment of their unpaid bills.
The resolution – which was confirmed during the city council session on Monday – said condoning the blacklisted customers will be beneficial for all those concerned, particularly the consumers who would have the opportunity to start anew and legalize their electric consumption.
“[By condoning blacklisted customers], the overloading and explosion of electric transformers could be prevented, the occurrence and hazard of fire would be lessened, the cost of the so-called ‘system loss’ would be minimized, and an income for both the electric utility and the government could be generated through payment of the correct bill and taxes,†the resolution added.
The measure, introduced by councilor Ranulfo Ludovica, said condoning blacklisted consumers will curb the dangerous practice of allegedly resorting to the illegal practices of tapping into the electrical line of a registered consumer, the installation of a jumper, the reversal of electrical transformers, or the destruction of meters.
“Illegal use of electricity does not only prejudice the legitimate subscribers or registered customers whose monthly billing are adversely affected, as it appears to be higher than the actual consumption, but likewise poses threat to the lives of innocent people who might be victimized by overload explosion or conflagration,†said the measure.
“The grant of condonation is beneficial considering that most of the blacklisted subscribers or those unable to settle their unpaid bills are informal settlers of belonging to poor families,†it added.
The resolution mandates that an endorsement or recommendation coming from Quezon City housing, community development and resettlement department must be submitted to the utility provider prior to the grant of condonation.
The consumers will have to settle their unpaid or illegally consumed electricity within an agreed period of time as a condition for the removal of their names from Meralco’s blacklist.
A copy of the resolution will be forwarded to the main office of the utility provider for their information and appropriate action.