Solon raises alarm over firm’s threat to cut off power supply in Iloilo City

A senior administration congressman Wednesday called on leaders of Congress to alert law enforcement agencies so they could prevent the Panay Electric Co. (PECO) from making good on its threat that could plunge the whole of Iloilo City in a blackout.

Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting aired the appeal as he chided PECO for allegedly trying to “blackmail” Congress into granting it a franchise by threatening to plunge the city into darkness if its demand is not met.

Tambunting said the threat was aired by PECO legal counsel Inocencio Ferrer when he allegedly threatened to cut off the operation of the power firm which currently serves the city.

He said Ferrer said the cutting off of power in Iloilo should be blamed on Congress for granting the franchise for distribution utility to another company.

Ferrer, Tambunting claimed, insisted that PECO, and not its competitor, can best deliver efficient power service to Iloilo City.

“Congress has decided to give the franchise to another company. A franchise is a privilege granted by Congress. We have testimonies of how PECO has been inefficient through the years,” said Tambunting, chairman of the House Committee on Games and Amusement.

Tambunting disclosed that Congress received all the complaints filed over the years by Iloilo City consumers against PECO’s penchant for overbilling its customers.

Customers also complained about dilapidated transmission facilities like decrepit electricity poles sagging and endangering residents, the low quality of public service and the consistently high electricity rates already proven by industry experts as the highest not only in the Philippines but in the entire world.