AFP postpones disconnection of electricity in museum

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has called off plans to cut the electricity in its museum at Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday.

“We are aware of the importance of the role of the AFP museum and the foundation running it that is why the command is willing to sit down with them to jointly find a solution to alleviate the present situation,” AFP public affairs chief Col. Noel Detoyato said on Tuesday.

He said that as of posting time, the disconnection which would supposedly take effect on Wednesday was postponed, according to camp commander Brig. Gen. Vicente Yordan.

Last week, the AFP sent a letter to the museum, warning that the electricity would be cut on Feb. 3 if its electricity bill amounting to P1.3 million would not be settled.

The museum had not been able to pay since November 2013 because its income was not enough to cover the bill estimated at P50,000 per month.

The AFP museum charges only P20 to visitors and is free for active and retired personnel.

When the museum was established in the ’90s, it was verbally agreed upon that the AFP would pay for its utilities.

In November 2013, however, the AFP started to require its tenants to pay their own bills.

The museum, run by a nonstock, nonprofit foundation, is a tenant at Camp Aguinaldo.

Detoyato said they were willing to discuss with the foundation a payment scheme in order to settle its utility bills.

“Meanwhile, services will continue while these are being planned out by the AFP Museum Foundation officials and Headquarters Support Group. We are also aware that there are reservations for museum tours and we don’t want to deny the pubic that opportunity,” he said. RC