ILOILO CITY — Panay Electric Co. (PECO), whose franchise is due to expire in 2019, remains hopeful that it will get a renewal from Congress even as the Senate committee on public services warned of receiving complaints on the electricity distributor’s poor operations and services.
“To say that we are really confident would be very presumptive on our part… It is not a simple thing that just because of a billing problem, you will cancel the franchise of a distribution utility. I think the Senate will consider the overall effect of all these. So we believe they don’t have a merit to deny the granting of franchise,” PECO Assistant Vice President for Operations Randy S. Pastolero, said.
The Senate committee, chaired by Senator Grace Poe-Llamanzares, held a public hearing in the city last Friday, where issues relating to PECO became a main topic.
The hearing’s major agenda was the effects of Republic Act No. 10963, the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, particularly on utilities and transportation.
Ms. Poe, speaking in Filipino, said among the complaints that her office has been receiving include PECO’s electricity posts that easily topple, over-billing, and recurrent brownouts.
The weekly brownouts are not “acceptable,” she said, stressing that all these issues will be considered when Senate decides on the renewal application.
“If they are unable to fix their service delivery, replace their old equipment and posts, well, perhaps they won’t get a renewal,” Ms. Poe said.
PECO — the sole power distributor in Iloilo City, the regional center of Western Visayas — is seeking a 25-year franchise extension.
The application is currently pending before the House of Representatives. PECO said it will file its application before the Senate after the House issues its decision.
Mr. Pastolero, acknowledging the problems, said the company is doing its best to address all these.
“We believe that providing services in power is an ongoing process. You solve one problem and another one pops up. So you improve as you go along. Kay wala man guro sang perpekto nga (I don’t think there is a perfect) distribution utility,” he said. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

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