by Gideon C. Corgue
PAGADIAN CITY, October 6 (PIA) – To show off vigorous protest against the proposed privatization of the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower complexes and amendment of some provisions of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2011 (EPIRA), the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) , Power Alternative Agenda (PALAG)- Mindanao, Consumers Alliances of Zambonga del Sur (CAZS), Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives (AMRECO) and the Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative (ZAMSURECO-I) will join the electric cooperatives and other Non-Government Organizations (NGOS) in the conduct of ‘National Day of Protest’ on October 11.
PALAG Mindanao secretary-general Lucita D. Gonzales in a weekly media forum organized by the Philippine Information Agency at New Roxan Hotel said there are lined-up activities to be conducted from 2:00-5:00 in the afternoon.
She said the highlight of the protest rally is a motorcade in the major thoroughfares of the city. A brief program will be held with the organizers to speak out on the privatization of hydropower complexes and the EPIRA Law.
Gonzales said a “simultaneous power shut-off” at 7:30-8:00 pm on the same day will be conducted in barangays Banale, Dao, and Dumagoc. “The power shut off is a symbolic gesture of our protest against the sale of the said hydro power complexes and the amendment of the said law,” Gonzales explained.
AMRECO Zamboanga del Sur chapter vice president Liberal Cabatcha said there is really a need to oppose the move of selling the said hydroelectric power complexes saying that it helps address power crisis in Mindanao. “If these will be sold to one or two companies, a monopoly will result and therefore the power rates will increase,” Cabatcha said.
“Gikinahanglan nga magpakabana gyud ta ug ipakita nato ang atong pagsupak tungod kay kung dili ta mohimo sa ingon, maapektohan gyud ta. Kita lamang dinhi sa Mindanao ang pinakabarato ug power rates ug kung i-privatize kini, mag-antos kitang mga kosumante (There is really a need for us to show our opposition because if will not act, we will be affected. It is only in Mindanao that we have low power rates and if the said complexes will be privatized, we, the consumers will suffer),” Cabatcha said.
It can be recalled that Congress has planned to allow the privatization of the Mindanao power complexes saying that it is a solution to the projected power crisis.
Section 47d of RA 9136 or the EPIRA Law provides that the Agus and the Pulangi complexes in Mindanao shall be excluded from among the generation companies that will be initially privatized.
It also provides that the Agus and Pulangi complexes “may be privatized not earlier than 10 years” from the time the EPIRA was passed in 2001. (ALT/GCC/PIA9-Pagadian)