 | | OUST
SALCON. Energy Commissioner Jose Reyes (extreme left) evaluates the proposed
programs of Bohol Light Co. during last Friday's public hearing while a rally
was in progress outside with (l - r) Ex-Gov. dela Serna, Ex-Gov. Tirol, Mayor
Lim calling for the buy-back of the power and water facilities by the provincial
government. |
A
public protest rally last Friday called on the Salcon consortium to pack up and
sell its 70-percent ownership in the power and water utilities.
Meanwhile,
Bohol Light successfully conducted its public hearing for capital projects presided
by Commissioner Jose Reyes of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) who arrived
Friday at the Bohol Light office while the protest rally was in progress.
Organized
by City Mayor Dan Lim and businessman civic-leader Djingo Rama, the rally was
attended by former Bohol Gov. David Tirol, former OIC Gov. Victor dela Serna,
Vice Mayor Nuevas Tirol-Montes, Provl Administrator Tomas Abapo Jr. and city councilor
Danilo Bantugan.
Some
500 protestors, mostly students, joined last Friday's rally which was questioned
by some quarters on why students were "used" to attend the rally, which
was covered live by city radio stations.
In
his speech, Mayor Lim threatened that if Salcon, which controls Bohol Light and
Bohol Water will refuse to leave within this year, he will be compelled to find
legal remedies to shutdown the utility companies.
The
mayor declared he is willing to offer up to P300 million to reacquire the Salcon
equity in both utility firms and pay up for its losses just so the provincial
and city governments have control on the utilities. | | | In
three-year time, the mayor expressed optimism that both utilities can stand on
its own and will be financially stable to support other basic services such as
healthcare.
According
to Mayor Lim, he doubts the reported losses of both Bohol Water and Bohol Light
in the past six years being subsidiaries of Salcon which is a publicly listed
company.
The
mayor blames a local businessman who is reportedly the conduit of Salcon to invest
here. |
For
his part, former Gov. Tirol bared that during their recent board meeting in Cebu
City, he queried Salcon chair Lim Chan-lok on Bohol Light's P15-million allocation
for administrative services or about 45% of its operational expense from the total
P28-million budget this year amid rumors of overstated expenditures specifically
in professional and retainers fees in its financial statements.
According
to Tirol, Chan-lok pointed out that these expenses included payments to local
media practitioners who are hired by the twin utilities for its public relations.
He
identified Boy Guingguing, Sunday Post publisher and Loy Palapos, freelance writer.
After
learning the amounts being paid to media practitioners, the former governor argued
that even the government's board representatives receive a per diem of only P1,500
every three months.
The
hired mediamen where allegedly receiving over P5,000 monthly, according to the
Salcon chairman.
Tirol
accused Bohol Water and Bohol Light of cheating consumers in its monthly billings.
Tirol suggested to Gov. Erico Aumentado to communicate directly with Salcon
stockholders regarding Capitol's proposal to buy back the utility firms as Chan-lok
said that ownership issues could only be resolved by the stockholders.
The
right to manage basic services such as power and water utilities should be the
responsibility of the local government, Tirol stressed, and that "foreigners
have no business" controlling the power and water firms.
On
the other hand, Abapo, who represented Gov. Aumentado conveyed the governor's
opposition to the water and power rate increases.
In
fact, Abapo stressed, an intra-corporate complaint has been filed at the Regional
Trial Court last January 18 questioning the legitimacy of the 40-percent water
rate increase of Bohol Water.
Abapo
also cited that the governor is already awaiting the current valuation of both
utilities and its market value when it was semi-privatized following the joint-venture
agreement (JVA) forged back in 2000.
Meanwhile,
Dela Serna raised points why it is necessary for the provincial government to
buy back the water and power services.
He
explained Salcon is a private corporation with the primary purpose of earning
profits while the 30-percent ownership of the province is affected with the suffered
losses of Bohol Water and Bohol Light.
Mayor
Lim also raised the issue of power cost adjustment being charged in the electric
bills that is more than the actual consumption.
Councilor
Bantugan revealed that the city government received notice from Bohol Light last
month that the company's systems losses will be passed on to its concessionaires.
This
was opposed by city lawmakers who adopted a resolution in its regular session
last Wednesday.
MEDIAMEN'S
COMMENT
Asked
to react on Tirol's statement, Guingguing challenged the former governor to show
proof that he actually received money from Salcon. With his access to the books
of accounts and corporate records, Tirol should support his claims.
According
to Guingguing, as a lawyer, Tirol should have first substantiated his claims and
charges against members of the media. The former governor, Guingguing said, sounded
uncertain with his facts.
The
Post publisher added that if Tirol felt he is receiving less for the services
he renders as the provincial government's representative to the Bohol Light board,
then he should resign.
Guingguing
explained further that his personal position against the buy-back of the utilities
is sometimes misconstrued he is being paid.
On
the other hand, Palapos told the Chronicle that he was indeed contracted by Salcon
two years ago to handle its public relations.
However,
after a few months, Palapos completely changed his mind when he sensed there was
something wrong with Salcon and refused to sign the renewal of his contract.
ERC
HEARING
The
public hearing inside the Bohol Light building was orderly presided by Commissioner
Jose Reyes of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) together with Atty. Joel
Bontoyan, hearing officer of the ERC Visayas.
Bohol
Light manager Engr. Noel Alingig made an expository presentation on the proposed
capital projects.
In
an interview with the Chronicle, Reyes explained that the hearing was for capital
projects only in order for Bohol Light to put up transformer substation and install
new lines and improve existing lines in its service areas.
He
clarified that Bohol Light have no application for rate adjustment yet and a separate
hearing will be conducted once the utility company applies for increase.
Clarificatory
hearings will be scheduled as soon as the commission has reviewed Bohol Light's
capital project application. | 
