In dubious battle

By Limuel S. Celebria

It’s the nth day of being in lockup, uhm lockdown, rather, because of this global pandemic that is CoVid 19. The world is at war against an unseen enemy and it’s chalking up thousands of human casualties – not counting businesses, trades, industries, even whole economies that have been brought to a standstill in the general call to arms.

We’re in an Armageddon of sorts, battling against an invasive species that chokes its victims – especially the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions – to death. Governments around the world have their hands full trying to contain the unseen demon that does not discriminate – rich or poor nations, developed or underdeveloped, it afflicts them all – relentlessly.

But amid this general preoccupation, many of people, particularly on facebook have continued to engage in dubious battle against their own invisible enemies. They rant. They rave. They rage against certain follies, especially those that go against their personal or even general notion of what is right. Or wrong.

The tale of Iloilo’s two lady solons and the effort to put up a badly needed Covid testing facility in Iloilo City comes to mind. There is a claim – and we have no reason to doubt its veracity – that private efforts initiated by certain UP Iloilo alumni jumpstarted the campaign to put up the badly needed facility. As it was about to bear fruit, here comes Iloilo City Rep. Jam Baronda getting on her high horse and thanking the DOH for heeding her letters requesting for a Covid facility here. No sooner had she brandished her banner that she was raked over the coals for stealing the thunder from the private sector. No matter that Baronda was talking about her efforts not that of the private groups who were either too modest or too laidback to call attention to their actions.

It did not end there. On a Sunday afternoon, the private group were ready to fly five medical technicians to Manila to train for Covid testing procedures. They were to board a private plane borrowed from construction tycoon and hotelier Alfonso Tan. For some reason, the flight did not push through. But why? Until now it remains a mystery – nobody wants to offer an explanation, not even Ponso Tan. His nephew, Jojo, may tell you but only if you are very close and can keep a secret.

By her own account, on that fateful Sunday, Cong. Janet Garin of the First District of Iloilo came to Iloilo on board a private plane lent to her by some businessmen and brought along a couple of technicians to help prepare Iloilo’s Covid facility.  She later said the plane was owned by her relatives. (Yes, they’re that rich!) On her way back to Manila she towed along only two of the five medical technicians. Her move was explained by a statement from the DOH Regional Director here that only two were approved by RITM (actually, the other 3 medtechs were headed for UP PGH) and that the flight manifest, as approved by Malacanang and Senator Bong Go (wow!) could only allow two more.

Garin’s entry threw a monkey wrench on the best laid plans of the private group who can only respond in silence. Those who were as loud in chastising Baronda were as silent on Garin’s last minute involvement.

They immediately put the issue to rest – which is probably well as it should be. But, well, I have some dubious battles of my own to deal with. I have to get this thing off my chest. Haaay.

Peco’s dubious war

But while we’re amazed and entertained by the dubious battles many of our facebook friends are engaged in, we might as well enjoy the vision of our supplanted local power distributor, Panay Electric Company, of continuing to bang its head against the wall.

PECO President Luis Miguel Cacho, in an undated letter to its consumers (issued maybe soon after the Energy Regulatory Commission issued to MORE last March 5, 2020 a temporary Certificate of Public Convenience so it can begin to operate as the Iloilo City’s power distributor), virtually said MORE’s Provisional Authority is fake, that it lied to the ERC, and that it is pre-empting the Supreme Court.

In this very rare effort at communicating to its clientele, Cacho further warned that MORE will charge even higher rates than PECO already has.  He assured that “the fight goes on.” But all these are off-tangent, an exercise in futility.

What is PECO really fighting for? It already lost the war when it failed to renew its franchise last year. Congress already gave it to MORE. That is not even at tissue with the Supreme Court. What is at issue is whether the franchise holder (MORE) can exercise eminent domain powers over PECO’s assets.  A Regional Trial Court in Mandaluyong said no. But another court right here in Iloilo City virtually told More to go ahead. In fact, It is this ruling that allowed MORE to take control of PECO transmission plants and power feeders so it can begin to act as the duly authorized power distributor.

The Supreme Court is not even inclined to issue a temporary restraining order — which probably gives us a clue which side the highest court is favoring.

Amid all these, the country is facing the dangerous threat of a contagion of pandemic proportions. Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, MORE owner Enrique Razon’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) organization, is donating around P60 million worth of badly needed Personal Protective Equipment, N95 Masks, and testing kits in the fight against Covid 19. More assured that part of this donation will go to Iloilo.

Meanwhile, Peco continues to bang its head against the wall.