Nagbabala si Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel na mabuting ipabuwag na lang ang Energy Regulatory Commission kung hindi pa rin matatapos ang ‘rate reset’ para sa energy distribution utilities gaya ng Meralco.
Sa pagdinig ng House Committee on Legislative Franchises, pinagpaliwanag ni Pimentel ang ERC kung bakit may delay sa reset at kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring computation ng Weighted Average Cost of Capital O WACC.
Punto ng mambabatas dapat ay kada apat na taon ay mayroong WACC computation ngunit sa nakalipas na 13 taon ay wala.
Ang WACC ay bahagi ng computation ng rate reset kasama ang operational expenses, capital expenditure, depreciation at taxes.
“You should have computed the WACC every four years. Kung yung last computation niyo was in 2010, dapat 2014 mayoon na naman kayo, 2018 mayroon na naman kay, then 2022. So dapat tatlong beses na kayong nag-compute ng WACC but for the past 13 years, you have not done so. Bakit? And tell me why you should not be held responsible for not doing your job.” ani Pimentel.
Tugon naman ni ERC Commissioner Floresinda Baldo-Digal maliban sa budgetary constraints ay nahirapan din silang makakuha ng quorum dahil sa suspesyon ng ilan sa mga opisyal.
“There was a time wherein in 2018, we did not have a quorum, or at least the majority to act on the applications, because of the suspension of commissioners in different periods. We likewise encountered budgetary issues, when it comes to the year 2019 to 2020. And the failure of bidding for the consultants was likewise contributory to the delay,” paliwanag ni Digal.
Diin ni Pimentel, binuo nag ERC para protektahan ang mga konsyumer ngunit kung hindi naman nila kayang gampanan ang kanilang trabaho ay maiging buwagin na lamang sila.
“Ang ERC, this was created by the government to protect the consumers. But if you do not do your job, ‘di hindi natin napoprotektahan, dapat isama na kayong i-abolish kung hindi niyo ginagawa yung trabaho ninyo.” ani Pimentel. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
