THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) conducted a second public hearing on Leyte-V Electric Cooperative’s (Leyeco V) application for P1.045 billion worth of capital expenditure projects under its five-year distribution development plan last Jan. 25.
This time, there are three parties who manifested opposition to the application compared to only one the first time around. Hearing Officer Atty. Ronaldo G. Gomez decided that National Association of Electricity Consumers for Reform (Nasecore) will be the intervener, giving it the privilege to present evidences and cross examine witnesses during the hearing.
On the other hand, the Ormoc local government unit (LGU) and Ormoc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Orcham) will be considered oppositors and can submit their position papers. The two parties asked that they be given 30 days to submit their respective position papers but Atty. Gomez granted only 20.
Nasecore President Pete Ilagan filed an instant motion to dismiss the application but which was countered by Leyeco V counsel Atty. Rogelio P. Gula on the ground that it will only delay the proceedings. Besides, the ERC will dismiss the application if the motion is meritorious, he added.
Atty. Gomez proceeded with the expository presentation and pre-trial conference. Orcham Vice President Iñigo Larrazabal said they wanted to examine Leyeco V’s book of accounts and the financial analysis for the projects. There were other issues raised by the participants that had nothing to do with the issue at hand.
One of them is Leyeco V’s alleged over-collection of P150 million which was raised by Manuel Constantino, cooperative officer of Isabel LGU. Atty. Gomez did not entertain such issues but instead advised them to file their grievances to National Electrification Administration. Ilagan said he will present five witnesses from among the Board of Directors (BOD) of Leyeco V on the next evidentiary hearing which is yet to be scheduled.
Meanwhile, Mayor Eric C. Codilla extended an offer for the LGU to mediate between Leyeco V and Nasecore. Speaking over DYRR, the mayor said he understands the need for Leyeco V to upgrade its facilities but Nasecore also raised valid points with respect to the 7719¢ per kWh rate corresponding increase as a result of the DDP.
Mayor Codilla sees no point for the two parties to conduct their own forums that don’t resolve the problems. He was apparently referring to the power forum conducted by Orcham and Nasecore in Nov. 26 last year wherein Leyeco V wasn’t invited to answer the issues. In another occasion, Leyeco V was allowed to present its position at a public hearing organized by the Ormoc LGU in Dec. 21 last year but was snubbed by Orcham and Nasecore.
“Sige lang mo’g forum unya wala man ang Leyeco diha. Mag-grandstanding lang gyud mo; ipakita lang nga maayong laki mo manulti,” he scoffed. “Walay solusyong mahimo. Ang interes sa tawo unsa may solusyon, dili magsige ta’g pagarpar (ug) pabilib nga maayo kang mu-istorya.”
Mayor Codilla will schedule a closed-door meeting wherein he hopes Leyeco V’s BOD and accountants as well as Nasecore members will attend.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Jan. 23-29, 2012)
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