In Bohol, gov't officials oppose power rate increase

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines - City and provincial lawmakers have opposed the planned increase on electric power rates by the Bohol Light Company Inc. (BLCI), which 30 percent ownership still belongs to the provincial government.

The Provincial Board, presided over by Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim, unanimously approved last week a resolution, initiated by PB member Venzencio Arcamo, justice and human rights committee chair.

Arcamo described the plan as "untimely" since this would become another burden of city consumers serviced by BLCI.

Arcamo has been authorized to represent the PB during the scheduled public hearing held yesterday by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) at the Governor's Mansion.

The City Council, for its part, rarlier proposed a resolution authorizing Mayor Dan Neri-Lim to file a protest against the proposed power rate hike.

City Councilor Doni Piquero confirmed that the resolution was still pending in a committee for study before its final approval. 

If the ERC approves the rate increase application of BLCI, city consumers will have to brace for more because the firm's sister company, Bohol Water Utilities, Inc (BWUI), has started collecting since last month the water rates increase since 2006 when it applied for such hike.

The water hike was stalled when the city government filed a case against it until the settlement recently.

BLCI and BWUI were formed as an offshoot of the privatization when the provincial government sold its Provincial Public Utilities Department through the Joint Venture Agreement in 2001. Both companies serve only the city residents. - THE FREEMAN