KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – This city has been told by the Cotabato Electric Coop. (Cotelco) to settle its P4-million electricity bill by March or face disconnection.
The city, ironically the host to the Mt. Apo Geothermal Power Plant — which contributes about 100 megawatts to the Mindanao grid – got the notice last Thursday (Feb. 20)
The Philippine Daily Inquirer learned that the city originally owed a total of P8 million to Cotelco for power consumption by its 30 offices but it recently managed to settle half of the amount.
Despite this, Cotelco manager Godofredo Homez said the cooperative would be forced to cut power supply to the city hall and to street lights in various villages should the city government fail to pay the balance sooner.
“We would be forced to cut power supply if the city government fails to settle its existing account balance with us by then,” Homez said.
Mayor Joseph Evangelista said they have appealed to Cotelco to reconsider its next move as abruptly cutting power supply to various offices would affect the flow of government transactions.
Among the offices that would be affected by the disconnection would be the city’s blood bank (which needs electricity to run facilities in preserving blood); and the Commission on Elections, which has been rushing to update its records.
Evangelista also hinted that crime might increase if streetlights were not lighted at night.
He said what the city government has been asking the power firm a little more time to settle the bill, which was accumulated since 2012.
Evangelista said he already made an “urgent request” to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) to release the funds intended for power bill payments.
“We will pay once it is approved,” he said.