Letter to the Editor - Clarifications

This refers to the March 18, 2006 issue of The FREEMAN that featured the press conference conducted at Waterfront in the morning of March 17, 2006. I had just read a copy of it today as given by your colleague Mr. Ben Ypil.

Much as I appreciate your unbiased stance on the TransCo projects, yet, I would like to make some clarifications on some printed statements lest they be misinterpreted.

First of all, I would like to take exception to the quotation marks on the third paragraph as they gave the impression of having uttered the exact words. Although the thought might be the same, the statement should not be taken to mean a disregard of ERC rights and powers over us, because as you purportedly quoted: "We submitted documents and asked for the approval of the ERC..." And in fact, TransCo had the approval of the National Economic Development Authority - ICC and had likewise submitted documents to ERC. While waiting for ERC approval, the ongoing project is supposed to continue as the bidding process is already finished.

Further, the phrase that: "...the ERC decision should not stop the projects" was a conveyance of the official stand of TransCo - that the ongoing projects will go on. There was no personal intent of maligning or obstinately defying anybody, much less the revered office of the ERC. Truth to tell, I became aware of the mentioned ERC decision (Penalty) only during the press conference when the media raised the issue. Other than that echo, I did not even make comments on it since I had not been apprised nor had read any document or newspaper on such ERC decision.

I particularly wanted to convey about the project(s) status in general terms, including the bidding results, construction and completion year.

(Sgd.) Jules S. Alcantara
National Transmission Corporation
Visayas Operations and Maintenance