Lights out against power rates

Complaining that the cost of power in the country was the steepest in Asia, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and allied groups on Tuesday held a nationwide protest against the high rates by turning off house and office lights.

FDC president Ricardo B. Reyes said they were calling on the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to stop approving power rate hikes and instead slash the cost of electricity by P2.

He also said the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) should be overhauled for its failure to achieve its goal of bringing down electricity rates a decade after it became law.

“We can no longer bear the cost of power in our country. It is the highest in Asia, higher than Japan. To raise it further by entertaining new applications for rate increases would be unconscionable,” Reyes said.

Day-long protests were capped by a lights-out from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Metro Manila, Baguio City, Bulacan, Leyte, Cebu, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Zambonga del Sur, Davao City and General Santos City.

In Quezon City, protesters staged a noise barrage at 6 p.m. at the Welcome Rotunda followed by a torch parade from the Philippine National Bank on Elliptical Road to Kalayaan Avenue. With a report from Penelope P. Endozo