‘TASK FORCE BLACKOUT’: City Hall mulls power crisis management team

THE Iloilo city government will create a Crisis Management Team (CMT) to anticipate the problems that may arise from the ongoing tug-of-war over power distribution services between two private firms and prepare necessary solutions.

According to Mayor Jose Espinosa III, the CMT will prepare different mechanisms and strategies relative to the possible threat of power disruption in the city.

“I have ordered there will be CMT para sila ang ma-study kung papano magpreparar ang tanan nga sector in case may disruption sa power kag para magtan-aw sang mga paalubuton nga problema,” Espinosa said.

The mayor said he fears that businesses, especially the Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs), will be affected by the possible power disruption.

“Indi ta gid mapabay-an kay ang aton businesses maapektuhan kag ang iban man naton na mga concerns including security sang aton siyudad,” he said.

Panay Electric Company (PECO), the current power distributor in Iloilo City, has yet to renew its congressional franchise, which will expire in January 2019.

While PECO’s application for renewal is still pending in the House of Representatives, the application of its rival firm, MORE Electric and Power Co. (MORE Power), has hurdled the House and the Senate Committee on Public Services.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) proposed a two-year transition period from PECO to MORE Power, citing that PECO may be authorized to operate for two more years until MORE Power has established its own system of power distribution and completed its transition

But PECO is adamant in saying that it will not sell its assets to MORE Power even though one of its lawyer said they will be compelled to stop distributing electricity if the firm fails to renew its franchise by Jan 20, 2019.

Between PECO and MORE Power, mayor said he does not mind whoever gets the franchise to distribute power in the city.

“Biskan sin-o lang da basta assured ang continuous and undisrupted power supply,” he added.

Espinosa will head the CMT while the members are the Philippine National Police (PNP), City Engineer’s Office and representatives from the private sector.

Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, assured that Iloilo City will be spared massive power outages amid the PECO-MORE Power rivalry.

In an interview with Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo station manager John Paul Tia on Monday, Poe said PECO could be allowed to operate even after its franchise expires to ensure continuous power supply in the city.

Poe said either the Department of Energy or Energy Regulatory Commission can issue a provisional permit to PECO while the transition to MORE Power, should it succeeds in securing a congressional franchise, is ongoing.

“We have to work with what we have,” said Poe, who traces her roots to Iloilo City.

The lady senator added that they cannot wait for PECO to renew its franchise aside from complaints filed by consumers with ERC and her committee.

Poe said that MORE Power must buy PECO’s assets while the latter must sell based at a “just price.”

“PECO and MORE Power must cooperate for a smooth transition,” she added.

Poe also assured PECO employees that will not go jobless if their employer fails to renew its franchise.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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