By Danilo P. Padua, PhD
Some major areas of the country are experiencing electricity problems such as Western Visayas and Mindoro. Other areas are experiencing water problems such as NCR. Everybody knows that supply of water and electricity are two of the most important commodities needed in today’s modern world.
The two affect not only households but also the economy as a whole-businesses, tourism, official functions, education, etc.
Occidental Mindoro was declared under a state of calamity recently due to terrible brownouts. Seems the province never learned a thing from the same problems encountered by its twin province, Mindoro Oriental which had prolonged and intermittent power failure for two years from 2021-2022.
The current problem of Mindoro Occ. appears to have been solved, albeit temporarily, due to the intercession of PBBM. Some are worried though that the problem could extend indefinitely, as there is no guarantee that the measures put in place will hold for a considerable period of time.
Here comes now, the energy problems of the Wester Visayas region. The region is almost in disarray due to prolonged black outs of up to 20 hrs daily. It started last week of April while PBBM was on his way to a state visit in the land of uncle Sam. The situation there is still persisting up to the time this piece is being written. That is precisely an anti-economic development. PBBM is again intervening to solve the problem.
Does it need the president of the country to solve such problems? Where is the DOE? Ah, they are enmeshed with the current problem of the NAIA. What are the other energy providers doing. Is there ineptitude thereabout? Apparently there is.
But wait, those mentioned energy problems is under the power transmission system operated by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, a privately-owned consortium of at least three corporations. NGCP has a supply agreement with the Philippine government.
Now here’s the disturbing information. The three companies that own NGCP are Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp., Calaca High Power Corp., and the State Grid Corporation of China as technical partner. It is a distinct possibility that the Chinese partner, which is in-charge of the technical aspect, may just be dragging its feet to solve any energy supply problem on strict instruction of Chinese authorities. We are at loggerheads with China in the West Philippine Sea, remember? Doing so is a strong signal from the Chinese government that they can do a lot to destroy Philippine economy if necessary.
They know that only PBBM can solve the problem with urgency, as was done in Oriental Mindoro. It is one of China’s not so subtle ways to remind PBBM to better behave in relation to the West Philippine Sea dispute.
For one, the West Visayas energy problem is not due to scanty supply, unlike in Mindoro, and that there was actually excess supply in Negross, but due actually to the distribution system anomaly. That is the job of the Chinese partner in the consortium. It could really be intentional.
BENECO relies on its energy supply distribution from the NGCP. It is possible then that Baguio-Benguet may suffer the same fate as Western Visayas, if China is angered by developments in the WPS, not to their liking.
If that scenario comes to reality, we will have problems with both electricity and water supply in the Baguio-Benguet area.
Of course, BENECO should come up with contingency plans regardless of any developments in the international political arena. Or, better still, devise developmental plans to make BENECO’s distribution system uninterrupted by non-force majeur occurrences such as rains and not so strong winds. Why is this a must? Take the case of the first rains that occurred in April. It was just a little disturbance but it resulted to brownouts in many areas. The sad part is that whenever there is power interruption, the consumers and business people suffer. A few minutes or hours of brownout will have big effects on many businesses. Income will decrease, some commodities could be destroyed.
People are forced to spend more in order to have light in their homes or offices. It’s a burden. And yet, consumers, especially those using only minimum wattage are forced to pay the minimum.
When consumers are unable to meet the deadline of payment even by just one day, they are made to pay the corresponding penalty. Worse, their connection sometimes may be cut off even if they missed to pay just one month.
Why not penalize BENECO also in some ways, if they can’t deliver the services required of it. The present system is very onerous against consumers.
The same is true with water supply. Many times, water coming out from faucets in La Trinidad was murky, unfit for cooking, bathing, brushing and even for washing clothes. Unless, one is not concerned about health and sanitation. So people have to shell out extra money to buy water from refilling stations for those necessary activities.
One time, when water supply was so murky for about two weeks, I jokingly told the water meter reader that LTWD should give discounts to consumers supplied with such horrible quality of water. Of course, he can only say that we are supplied with water anyway. They should also do their darnest best not to contribute to diseases among the local population.
BENECO and LTWD might be doing their best but if their services are not up to par, they should consider updating their measures for penalties of delayed payment.**
