Thousands to join rally vs. high power rates

CEBU, Philippines - Thousands of electricity consumers from 55 cities and municipalities from 15 provinces in 10 regions are expected to stage a multi-form protest on Nov. 22, 2012 dubbed as the “National Day of Action against EPIRA, high electricity rates and privatization of the power industry.”

Various groups, led by the Freedom from Debt Coalition, said that the whole-day protest will focus on issues that affect the ordinary electricity consumers.

FDC-Cebu secretary-general Aaron Pedrosa said that here in Cebu, power off will be from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 22.

A people's assembly will be held in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City at 7 a.m. before a power caravan will take off at 8 a.m. on the same day from Talisay City to Lapu-Lapu City.

Pedrosa said that the Cebu City Council has already passed a resolution in support of this 30-minute power-off as the Association of Barangay Councils in Cebu City will likewise turn off power in their respective barangay halls, multi-purpose buildings and other barangay-owned buildings.

Pedrosa added that Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza has already issued an executive order in support of the same.

All business chambers here were already given a formal letter by FDC asking them to support the event.

"We urge everyone to join the public outrage over exorbitant power rate, repeal of the EPIRA law which failed after more than a decade of its privatization and stop the government in selling the generation assets of the National Power Corporation," Pedrosa said, referring to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.

“Sobra na ang pagtitiis ng mga konsyumer sa mataas na singil sa kuryente na dulot ng Epira. Sobra na ang kuryentiis ng mga mamamayan. Panahon na para ito labanan at hamunin ang mga kinauukulan na gumawa ng hakbang para tugunan ang isa sa pangunahing problema ng bawat simpleng Pilipino,” said FDC vice president Manjette Lopez in a press statement.

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello said that after 10 years of EPIRA, the country has higher electricity prices, worse power delivery and a real power crisis.

"EPIRA has shown itself to be a very deficient instrument from the point of view of achieving our national power and energy goals.  It's time to repeal it," Bello said in the same press release.

Josua Mata, a convenor of NAGKAISA, a network of labor organizations, explained the impact of high cost of electricity on workers and business.

He said that locators in Mactan export processing zone are threatening to pull out if their concerns about the high cost of electricity are not properly addressed.

“This threatens the jobs of 250,000 workers. This makes it imperative for the government to show us a roadmap on how to achieve affordable electricity and energy security,” said Mata, also the secretary-general of Alliance of Progressive Labor.  —(FREEMAN)