God bless PECO

“Good luck needs no explanation.”

—Shirley Temple

By Alex P. Vidal

IT was a tight decision.

In boxing, the defeat of Panay Electric Company (PECO) to More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE) in the Supreme Court was a split decision, not a technical knockout (TKO).

Since “it wasn’t a convincing win”, PECO is still hoping for a last-ditch miracle to turn the tide through an appeal.

Even if the chances for SC to reverse its own ruling are nil, PECO legal counsel, Atty. Estrella Elamparo, said PECO hasn’t thrown in the towel yet.

“We will continue to pursue the available legal remedies to defend PECO’s constitutional rights.  Despite this temporary setback, we remain optimistic that we will ultimately be vindicated not just for PECO but for the people of Iloilo,” Elamparo said in a statement. “The tight vote lends support to our position that the takeover of PECO’s properties is not the exercise of eminent domain contemplated by our laws, but a violation of constitutional rights.”

Good luck on your appeal, PECO.

The 8-6 verdict upheld MORE’s control over the power distribution business in Iloilo City, paving the way for Enrique Razon Jr.’s company to wrest the legal right to serve the Ilonggo electric consumers.

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The SC decision thus has set aside the order issued by the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court (RTC) and declaring Sections 10 and 17 of Republic Act No. 11212 (MORE’s franchise) as constitutional, according to SC public information chief and spokesperson, Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka, who explained: “In granting the petitions, the Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City Branch 209  in Civil Case No. R-MND-19-00571, and declared Section 10 and 17 of RA No. 11212 constitutional.”

We expect Mr. Razon to be magnanimous in victory and will now focus on how to upgrade MORE’s facilities and buttress the firm’s other physical assets.

Whatever will happen next, PECO had fought a good fight.

It’s time to move on.

Everything is now history.

For all the years that PECO had been part of the Ilonggos’ household, it isn’t easy to just dismiss its memory during its halcyon years.

Good luck and God bless, PECO.

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MY MEMORY OF PECO. Back in May 1993 when the Panay Electric Company (PECO) was applying for a 25-year extension of franchise in the Iloilo City Council, among the demands of the committee on public services, environmental protection and committee on ecology, transportation, energy and public utilities from the power utility’s top echelons during the public hearings was to put up a meter reading system.

Among the central issues raised against PECO was the “astronomical” distribution and generations fees, and, of course, the “lack of proper meter reading system” that irked so many consumers, including the late prominent businessman William Bayani, who filed a case against PECO.

For several weeks, PECO underwent intense grilling from Councilors German Gonzalez, Achilles Plagata, Rolando Dabao, Eduardo Laczi, and Perla Zulueta.

It was agreed that the meter reading system was necessary in order to provide the correct and accurate reading of the power consumed by the consumers and avoid overcharging.

The City Council approved PECO’s application for extension of franchise.

Under the law, it must get Congress’ imprimatur after sailing through the local legislature.

Before PECO got endorsement from the City Council, it was bombarded with multitudes of complaints from various consumers groups in a series of public hearings.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo)

 

Ilonggos want a stable power, not finger-pointing

“You get a reputation for stability if you are stable for years.”

—Mark Zuckerberg

By Alex P. Vidal

LET us take into consideration the main interest and priority of power consumers in Iloilo City: a stable power supply.

After they have been annoyed by several unscheduled blackouts, “a stable power supply” is the only language they would always want to hear.

The power consumers may be satisfied that the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has taken an initial step to address the baffling power outages these past months when it called for a committee investigation on June 30, but they will be more happy if given an assurance that there will be no more power interruptions as immoderate and egregious as the ones that occurred while the residents had been mandated to stay at home amid the pandemic restrictions.

They will be happier if the problem on power outage is resolved soon without hearing one party point an accusing finger at another party.

Uninterrupted power supply is their utmost priority even before the COVID-19 pandemic came; they want it now, and they want it quick.

They are aware that the longer it will take for the SP to act on the matter, the more they will agonize now that we are in the middle of the summer season.

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They may not be interested in the dispute between the More Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) and Panay Electric Company (PECO), let alone hear the Department of Energy (DoE) recite some technical terms that will create more perplexing questions than direct answers to their main concerns.

Moreover, the Ilonggo power consumers may scoff at an SP inquiry riddled with so much rancor and extended debate, especially if they feel the commotion will not immediately redound to the quick resolution of the problem.

A long debate means both parties are wrong.

An extended hearing means life will remain unbearable for thousands of power consumers who will end up in the losing end.

The power consumers have a short tolerance when it comes to disruption of their normal lives where the role of electricity is essential and a necessity.

It’s no longer a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

It’s should now be “fix it and stop fighting. Period.”

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NOW that the law on Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) has been passed in the Philippines, let us be reminded that manners are actually important to make a good impression on others in everyday life.

They also help us to feel good about ourselves and our identities.

No matter where we are, at home—with kids, at work—with colleagues, or with friends, practicing good manners are important.

If we practice good manners, we are showing those around us that we are considerate to their feelings and also respect them.

We are also setting standards for other’s behavior and encouraging them to treat us with similar respect.

Florence Lewis of Jobcluster has listed some of the basic examples of good manners and etiquettes:

—Choose your words wisely and don’t rush to comment about things you don’t know much about. Being a good listener is often better than speaking. You don’t need to have an opinion on everything.

—Think things out before you speak, especially if you are a person who may be poor at finding the right words to say. Don’t start a sentence, with ‘ums’ and ‘ers’ in between, it seems awkward and you should try speaking to yourself in front of a mirror, it works! It increases your confident in speaking.

—Don’t speak loudly. You will quickly lose respect if you do, as this can be seen as overbearing and rude. It can also make other people angry and upset with you before you even establish some kind of relationship with them. They will see you as a ‘big mouth’ who cannot be trusted with anything confidential. So practice turning your volume down if you tend to have a loud voice.

—Speak with respect to and of others. You can do this by avoiding negative remarks that may insult someone else. The general rule is- if you don’t want someone to speak about you that way, you don’t speak about them to others.

—Do not ever speak of bodily functions even if it is a casual conversation, such as using the bathroom or telling crude jokes, for this shows sign of immaturity and often creates a bad impression of you with your friends, family, and co-workers.

—Always respect older people and listen to them and learn. This applies to all elders and not just parents and grandparents.

Using the terms ‘Thank You’, and ‘You are Welcome’ shows that you have good manners. People who lack manners do not use these terms.

Hold open a door for anyone following you closely. This is a sign of a good manner and has never changed. There are no strict gender rules in this day and age.

—Speak highly of your parents respect them, even if there are things about them that you do not like. If you cannot do that, stay away from speaking about them at all. It looks bad to insult or speak badly of the people who brought you into this world or raised you. Don’t wash dirty family laundry in public. It is negative and rude.

—Do not swear to use filth language and curse words. It is unprofessional! People who do this are usually very immature and have no self-control or respect for themselves and others!

Good manners are simply respect and consideration for others or being aware of the needs of others.

They are the oil which lubricates the friction of interpersonal relations and creates a happy and successful society.

So, Give Respect and Take Respect!

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

 

What to expect during SP probe on Iloilo City blackout

“Of the various branches of electrical investigation, perhaps the most interesting and immediately the most promising is that dealing with alternating currents.”

—Nikola Tesla

By Alex P. Vidal

AT this early, we already anticipate what might happen on June 30, 2020 when the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) in Iloilo City opens up an investigation “in aid of legislation” on the frequent power outages experienced by Ilonggo consumers these past months.

MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), the main cast in the hullaballoo, won’t be there definitely just to absorb all the brickbats and catch all the uppercuts and roundhouse kicks.

“In aid of MORE Power”, the Department of Energy (DOE) might pick up the cudgels and help justify the causes of power interruptions like the way it explained everything in the media.

We can already anticipate, in fact, the DOE telling the SP Committee on Public Public Utilities, chaired by Councilor Romel Duron, that the successive power blackouts occurred “because the MORE Power needed complete maintenance work at substation 2 or the Jaro substation of the electric distribution facility.”

The same excuses and justification.

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We won’t be surprised if MORE Power, or even the DOE, will go to the extent of pinning the blame on Panay Electric Company (PECO), which controlled and was responsible for the substation’s maintenance until March 2020 when MORE Power took over the facility by virtue of a court order.

MORE Power had claimed earlier the Jaro substation “had not undergone maintenance for the past six or seven years when it was still under PECO’s charge.”

PECO, of course, won’t allow itself to be used as the punching bag and the scapegoat in the imbroglio and might even take the opportunity to step up its indictment of MORE Power for the seemingly abysmal services to the consumers which happened during the pandemic lockdown.

It will be a pingpong match anew between the two rival electric companies.

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And if lawyers from both parties will be allowed to join the fray, the SP committee hearing could be transformed into another venue for MORE Power’s and PECO’s display of supremacy and authority.

In terms of management capability and resources, MORE Power and PECO will try to out-duke each other in order to avoid the ax of culpability and public rebuke.

Councilors Eduardo Penaredondo and Ely Estante are among those who have openly expressed displeasure on the 13-hour power blackouts that almost occurred on a regular basis especially during the weekend.

They are expected to empty their cylinders during the committee hearing and won’t take sides.

The aldermen are so worried for the consequences in the metropolis’ tourism and economy.

The bottomline here should be accountability and efficient services to the consumers.

We are also weighing the problem of successive and long period of power blackouts to the impact on local economy especially now that everything seems to be in tatters due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Which is why there is a need to conduct the committee investigation in order to iron out some kinks and resolve whatever inefficiency and negligence committed by parties concerned.    

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New York, the place where I currently live, is now inching its way to the last two of the four phases in the reopening of economy.

After the Empire State implemented blanket shutdown orders in March that closed stores, shuttered offices and curtailed business at restaurants and bars, state officials set up a gradual process to restart the state’s economy and ease restrictions.

Regions of New York that show they have been able to effectively keep the virus contained can reopen sectors of the economy in four phases, under the state’s plan.

Still, all phases of the reopening require us here to adhere to social distancing guidelines, including wearing masks or face coverings in crowded public spaces, on public or private transportation or in for-hire vehicles.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)

 

Most abused, harassed during the lockdown

“If you want that good feeling that comes from doing things for other folks then you have to pay for it in abuse and misunderstanding.”

—Zora Neale Hurston

By Alex P. Vidal

NOW that most areas in the country have been declared as under the general community quarantine (GCQ), it’s time for the Ilonggos and the Filipinos in general to rejuvenate, move on and leave behind the specter of the novel coronavirus with extreme caution.

Most of us can now slowly inch our way back to normal life and begin to restructure our mothballed jobs and productive activities but without throwing caution to the wind.

Health and safety measures should continue to be our main priorities even if our movements will now be unshackled albeit limited.

We can’t allow the pandemic to forever snatch away our enthusiasm to sustain and live the kind of life we basically aspire.

Everything will come to pass, but we can’t subdue the novel coronavirus overnight and celebrate prematurely.

There is still a need for us to do a little sacrifice and show that we belong in one community.

There’s no shortcut to a total liberation.

Everything must undergo a series of trials and failures, if necessary, before a full plateau or dream recovery from the pandemic nightmare is reached.

Nevertheless it should be the right time to shed away the psychological and emotional anxieties inflicted by that harrowing lockdown that temporarily separated us from the “real” world.

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The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army (PA) are the most overworked and harassed agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

Like the public school teachers during the election day, the cops and military men were the favorite punching bags and scapegoats of just anyone wishing to violate the laws and guidelines on the quarantine and lockdown during the crisis.

Instead of being accused of bullying, the men and women in uniform were the ones who were bullied and ridiculed in the checkpoints for doing their job.

During the pandemic, the men and women in uniform have been away from their families manning the checkpoints 24/7 to see to it that the enhanced social distancing and lockdown guidelines were strictly observed.

What they got in return for implementing the laws and helping contain the spread of the coronavirus were brickbats, insults, among other forms of harassment from uncooperative and quick-tempered law violators.

We saw a lot of viral videos where arrogant individuals, after disregarding the guidelines on the social distancing and the wearing of mask, would physically attack the cops and military personnel manning the check-points after lashing at them like kindergarten pupils.

Despite their audacity and abhorrent behaviors, our uniformed law enforcers managed to control themselves and refused to retaliate using a force to neutralize the law offenders—except if they have become uncontrollable and were really looking for trouble.

Nowadays if we meet a cop or a military man in the streets—with our without the lockdown—let’s not forget to thank or congratulate them not only for a job well done, but also for their heroism in helping contain the spread of the contagious virus.

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MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) has tasted its baptism of fire of a public wrath after the Ilonggo consumers experienced a nerve-tingling 13-hour power blackout over the weekend in Iloilo City.

It was probably the longest power interruption experienced by the Ilonggo populace ever since More Power scored a blitzkrieg against rival Panay Electric Company (PECO) in a series of court battles since 2019.

The Ilonggos are ruthless and unforgiving when it comes to protesting against any power outage.

They have had enough in many years of being under the mercy of the power distributor.

They don’t care anymore if it is PECO or More Power that provides them electric services. Just give them a fair deal and they won’t give a damn which power company to acknowledge.

All they want is efficient service and unhampered power distribution. Anything less would mean an apocalypse of verbal denunciation.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo)