Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Zenaida Ducut. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/www.erc.gov.ph
MANILA, Philippines–A second administrative complaint seeking to dismiss Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chaiperson Zenaida Ducut for “gross negligence” was filed Thursday in the Office of the President.
The complaint-affidavit, signed by 15 sectoral leaders, told President Benigno Aquino III that Ducut failed to protect the Filipino consumer when she allowed Meralco to jack up its rate “without any public consultation or regulatory investigation.”
“How she could have failed to exercise the barest minimum of regulation to a proposed power rate hike that is appallingly high, is unimaginable,” Manny Manato of the Santolan Riverside Neighborhood Federation (SRNF) said.
“Ducut’s failure to act knowing too well that the record-high generation charge will be passed to hapless consumers is mind-boggling, if not, ruthless,” Manato said. “This person has no business to lead a regulatory body.”
He said Ducut’s “continued stay in office is a mockery of the concept of regulation with the public at the losing end of this cruel joke.”
Ducut also failed to monitor and act on an unscrupulous bidding strategy between Meralco and a power supplier, Manato said.
“By now we are already aware that Therma Mobile, a generation company, was instructed by Meralco to sell at P62 per kilowatt hour at WESM even if the bilateral contract between the two parties is for only P8.65 per kWh,” he said.
“As such, Meralco manipulated the market and practically dictated the price of electricity at that time. By passing the price to consumers as generation charges, Meralco ensured super profits from its unknowing consumers,” Manato explained.
“Through all of this, Ducut’s regulatory role was gravely missing. Generation charges are billed pursuant to Power Supply Agreement (‘PSAs’) entered into by and between Meralco and the generation companies. How this was overlooked by Ducut is astonishing as Meralco’s PSAs are filed with, reviewed, and approved by her office,” he said.
Manato said there was no other option for President Aquino but to remove Ducut as ERC chief.
The other groups that signed the complaint are the Federation of Military and Civilian Residents (FOMCRES), Maysapang-C5 Neighborhood Association, Maysapang II Neighborhood Association, Maysapang Riverside Neighborhood Association, Armor Village Neighborhood Association-Palar Group II, Nagkakaisang Samahan sa Nayon ng Palar Group III, Mini Park Neighborhood Association, Pasig Libre!, Malayang Tinig ng Kababaihan sa Komunidad (MATINIK) Samahan ng mga Nanay sa Barangay Obrero, Bicol Area Neighborhood Association, Alyansa ng mga Samahang Nagkakaisa Para sa Kaunlaran at Karapatang Pantao.
Last Jan. 23, Akbayan Representatives Walden Bello and Barry Gutierrez filed the first complaint against Ducut for alleged “gross neglect of duty and failure to protect the power consumers” that led to massive increases in electricity rate of Meralco, which is considered as the “highest in history.”
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