MANILA Electric Co. (Meralco) said the support for the renewal of its franchise from various lawmakers affirms its commitment to providing power services.
鈥淭he filing of separate bills to renew the legislative franchise of Meralco by veteran and respected lawmakers is a firm validation of the relentless efforts of Meralco to deliver power and serve millions of Filipinos,鈥 Meralco Vice-President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said in a statement last week.
House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman and Albay Rep. Jose Maria Clemente “Joey” S. Salceda has filed House Bill (HB) No. 9793, which seeks to extend the power distributor鈥檚 existing franchise set to expire in 2028.
The bill also aims to expand the scope of the company鈥檚 operations, a provision absent in its current franchise under Republic Act No. 9209, signed into law in June 2003.
Other bills seeking to extend Meralco鈥檚 franchise are HB No. 9813 filed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez and HB No. 10317 by former House Speaker Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco.
鈥淕ranting the franchise renewal would allow Meralco鈥檚 growing number of customers to continue enjoying stable and reliable electricity service, which is vital in powering not just households but also industrial and commercial customers that drive the country鈥檚 economic progress,鈥 Mr. Zaldarriaga said.
Mr. Zaldarriaga made the statement in response to energy consumer advocacy group People for Power (P4P) coalition questioning what it said was the 鈥渞ush鈥 to renew Meralco鈥檚 franchise.
Gerry C. Arances, convenor of P4P, said that a franchise renewal 鈥渨ill remove the ability of the government to hold them to account and protect consumers.鈥
鈥淭he fact that Meralco is pushing for an early renewal shows that they want to escape any responsibility for any findings that the House of Representatives or any government body might find in an investigation into their practices,鈥 Mr. Arances said.
鈥淭heir franchise is still good for a few more years, they鈥檙e earning a lot of money, they can wait until consumers have their say,鈥 he added.
He said that聽Meralco聽does not 鈥渆xactly have a clean track record on this end, with consumers repeatedly questioning terms, expensive fossil-based contracts, and other business practices that weigh heavily on our pockets.鈥
鈥淎s a highly-regulated entity,聽Meralco聽has always been strictly compliant of the laws and regulations governing its franchise,鈥 Meralco鈥檚 Mr. Zaldarriaga said.
Meralco鈥檚 controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in 大象传媒 through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. 鈥 Sheldeen Joy Talavera
