Tom: Probe school’s huge electric bills

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the city government will ask the Department of Education (DepEd) to explain the huge power consumption of schools even during those months when there are no classes.

In his press conference, the mayor said he was already informed by Councilor Joy Augustus Young about the situation of the Cebu City National Science High School which has unpaid electricity bills.

“I don’t like any disruption. But there are basic issues that have to be resolved because this is the kind of issue that can be recurring every year. Science High consumes more electricity than what is available in their budget,” the mayor told reporters.

The Visayan Electric Company (VECO) has already given the school a reprieve from the supposed disconnection last Monday since the school has to pay P369,984.23 bill for the past three months.

VECO will wait until next week that this amount will be settled.

But VECO noted that CCNSHS has five accounts with unpaid bills amounting to P544,249.69.

Osmeña said the city government is willing to assist CCNSHS since it is a top performing school in the region.

He said the city will also assist the schools if the Commission on Audit will also allow the city government to release its funds.

The mayor said he does not want to get notice of disallowances from the COA on its disbursements.

Before the city will release its funds, he said the city government should also get explanation from DepEd Cebu City Division office on the reason why several schools in the city are having huge electrical consumption even during April and May when there were no classes.

“There are possible areas of abuse or somebody’s having illegal connections. So obviously, that has to be looked into,” he said.

Osmeña said Councilor Young will investigate the matter with DepEd.