The City Council is going to summon for a “question hour” representatives from Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) during a special session on Tuesday, May 26.
Councilor Elgin Damasco, Chairman of the Committee on Energy, Public Utilities, and Facilities, told the media Friday during the plenary’s special session that they are seeking for PALECO’s explanation regarding the controversial billing issue.
“Marami tayong natatanggap na reklamo, kasi napakaganda ng paliwanag ng PALECO, akala mo talagang totoo. Pero sa implementation marami ang nagulat dahil biglang tumaas, lumaki ‘yong kanilang bill. Iyong sana ay binigay na grace period na four months, hindi nila ginawa. Nilagay nila lahat sa Mayo kaya lumaki ang bill ng Mayo. Nagulat ‘yong mga tao bakit ganito ang bayarin namin,” said Damasco.
“[Ang hangad ng pagpapatawag ay] masagot nila, kasi sabi nga nila ‘diba na ‘yong kuwentada nila mas makakatulong dahil mas liliit daw ‘yong bayarin ng mga tao, hindi nangyari base sa natatanggap na mga bill ng ating mga kababayan. So ipaliwanag nila ‘yon kung bakit ganoon ‘yon at kung bakit from nine pesos na per-kilowatt hour mahigit ay 11 [pesos] something na,” Damasco added.
Councilor Damasco stated this included the business establishments that did not operate within the past two months, but were given by PALECO with an average bill based upon what they have consumed from months of December to February while business operations were not yet halted.
Damasco said the City Council tried to make a formal communication with the cooperative, but was not satisfied with its response.
“Hindi tayo naging satisfied kasi pinapatawagan ‘yong parang finance manager yata, ay hindi naman sumasagot sa akin. So, minarapat na lang po natin na ipatawag na lang sila para pormal at saka tama na lugar na mag-paliwanag sila kasi ang buong konseho naman ay talagang representante ng taumbayan ‘yan. Magpaliwanag sila sa mga representatives ng taumbayan,” he said.
He further stated that anyone from the public who has complaints against PALECO may send a letter to his office that it may be included in the concerns during the question hour.
PALECO Spokesperson Claire Guludah, through a statement sent to Palawan Daily News, said they are going to properly respond to City Council’s questions.
“Maayos po naming tutugunan ang anumang pagtatanong na gagawin ng Sanggunian, [ng] city and province if ever, batay po sa kaatasan na aming ipinatutupad sang-ayon sa susog na board resolution at ERC Advisory,” said Guludah.
“Para rin po sa kaalaman, sakaling mayroong panibagong ERC Advisory katulad ngayong May 22, ito po ay nakatakda munang pag-usapan ng pamunuan ng kooperatiba at junta direktiba, bago po ang anumang implementasyon sakali mang magkaroon,” she added.
Guludah added that the consumer-public is always welcome to communicate with their main and satellite offices for questions and inquiries.
She said employees of PALECO will do their best to cater and answer everyone’s concerns.