Lawmaker: Hear VECO petition in Cebu, not in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – A party-list lawmaker cried foul over the power tariff hike proposal of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO), while criticizing the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for not providing more public hearings in the affected power consumer in Cebu City.

In a statement, Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP) Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza said the P1.29 P1.29/kilowatt-hour additional rate being sought by VECO is “unfair and piratical.”

Mendoza pointed out that the performance-based rate-making (PBR) formula of the ERC only allowed the VECO to implement a P1.17/kwh hike for 2011.

“But they now want this increase to P1.29 per kwh,” the lawmaker added, while condemning the ERC for slating the next public hearing in Manila.

After a public hearing in Cebu City last May 20, the ERC announced that the next hearing for VECO’s petition will be held in Manila.

“There was an attempt to undermine the full deliberation of the petition and thereby defeat the consumers and public interest,” Mendoza said.

“Why should be the next hearing (June 6) be held in Manila when it is the millions of Cebu-based consumers who will be affected,” asked Mendoza.

The ERC scheduled the next hearing on the VECO petition in Pasig City, but the TUCP appealed to have more hearings in Cebu City instead.