MORE has no more problem with PECO

By Herbert Vego

 

“PECO is no longer a problem. We are now concentrating on our three-year modernization plan budgeted at P1.9 billion.”

That was what Jonathan Cabrera – PR man of MORE Electric and Power Corp. –told us over coffee at Hotel del Rio, obviously referring to the past power distributor in Iloilo City, Panay Electric Co.

The Supreme Court has already ruled favorably on the constitutionality of the 25-year legislative franchise granted to MORE Power. PECO’s only move now is to either peacefully accept or contest in the Iloilo regional trial court More Power’s P481,842,450 “just compensation” offer.

The amount as specifically stated in the franchise law (RA 11212) is based on PECO’s tax declaration. Should PECO dispute the amount and ask for more, it could embroil itself in another trouble – this time with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

You and I could just deplore the blunder that PECO must have inflicted on itself – that is, if it is true that, long before bidding for the power franchise, MORE chairman Enrique Razon Jr. had offered to buy PECO for six billion (P6,000,000) pesos.

I remember that day when I heard PECO’s administrative officer Marcelo Cacho tell DyRI broadcaster Henry Lumawag that his company was worth much more than that amount.

In our several meetings with MORE Power’s President Roel Z. Castro, however, he never talked about the Razon offer. But the rumor is believable because his boss swings annually within third to fifth richest man in the Philippines.

The better news is that he is turning to Iloilo (both city and province) as his next expansion hub for his port-handling business, the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Ay abaw! Sin-o abi nga Ilonggo ang indi malipay?

-oOo-

Senator Imee Marcos is emerging to be an independent thinker. Unlike most of her allies in the Duterte circle, she wants the government to open up public spaces, shorten curfews, and extend business hours amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

As chair of the Senate committee on economic affairs, she is vocal against prolonged lockdowns for being “not the answer” to the health problem. She was right in saying that, as an unpleasant result,  most Filipinos have become  “cash-poor, space-poor, and time-poor.”

Lockdowns bring no good to residents in highly populated cities. Already too cramped in their homes to observe social distancing, they are prevented from finding ways to earn a living.

Marcos believes “lockdowns are only the final solution for highly infected, target barangays where protocols are still consistently ignored.”

For her, the better alternative is to open up public spaces and close side roads off to vehicular traffic after office hours. It would allow people to do their daily chores without breaking face-masking and social distancing requisites.

We agree with her that the poor, cramped families deserve precious spaces to breathe, play, cook, wash, and catch some sunlight.

She said in a press statement, “We already have a pandemic; let’s not encourage pandemonium.”

Ti, amigo Florante, sin-o abi ang indi mag-kumporme kay Imee?

-oOo-

Here are excerpts on how to fight panic and anxiety over “flip-flopping barangay lockdowns” from a former newspaper editor, Daryl Lasafin:

“If there is a community leader you trust — your kapitan, a kagawad, a law enforcer on the field, a homeowners’ association officer, among others — check on them from time to time.

“When they say that they are being mobilized, it is highly likely that lockdown policies are already in place.

“On the other hand, when you get information from posts by news outlets, understand them well. Read the entire post, then reread, before sharing/commenting/reacting.

“With the flood of information on our News Feed and our tendency to expect the worst news these days, the nuances are not easy to spot.

“My wish is for you to find your peaceful spot.”

-oOo-

This writer finds no word comforting enough to express his sadness and condolences to the bereaved Mommy Lucring and siblings of the late Evelyn Sarador Bayombong. Nene Evelyn passed away in San Jose, Antique last Sunday after a long battle with kidney disease that had tethered her to a dialysis machine twice a week.

But there is a brighter side to death.  It frees the mortal body of suffering and takes her spirit back to her Creator to find eternal peace and happiness.

Evelyn was like a sister to me.  I had lived with them in Paco, Manila while I was working as a magazine publisher and freelance entertainment reporter and columnist.

It was she who had phoned me about the passing of her two brothers. She seemed to wonder why Elmor and Oskee had gone away ahead of her, considering her prolonged illness.

Like their Mommy Lucring, her surviving siblings — Inday Merlyn, Belmar “Bong” and Joe Marie “Jomar” – are thankfully in good health.

The viewing of Nene Evelyn’s remains will start today (Tuesday morning, September 29) at the FONUS Cooperatives Federation Funeral Care in Atabay, San Jose, Antique. Interment will be on Saturday, October 3, following a 10:00 a.m. mass at Saint Joseph Cathedral.