Tensions build up in June

Tempers have noticeably built up lately. No, not just because of the slow-paced national canvass of votes. It’s just that prices have gone up. And there are more impositions on the public that drain their pocketbooks.

The latest blow that raised the hackles of consumers of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) was the seven-centavo power rate hike. That raised howls among consumers, especially those who must pay the increased fares by June 22, the tuition increases by private schools and the increasing cost of school supplies.

Even Herman Santos, manager of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Panay-Negros Chapter, blew his top upon reading the announcement in the dailies. "It seems that they just keep demanding more from the consumers without regard to whether people can still afford it," Santos bewailed.

Then, there is the outcry against the education department’s Bridge program, the immediate scrapping of which Anakbayan Negros asked for. It is burdensome, discriminatory, repressive and gearing toward the commercialization of the public school system, the party-list group insisted.

Although most parents spend more time murmuring than giving out outright denunciations, one can notice a build-up of anger over the increased tuition. University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos is one of those which posted the highest increase at 20 percent; it also scrapped its scholarships for students in sports.

Then, there is a developing garbage pileup in the city. Bacolod City Mayor Luzviminda Valdez blamed the Sangguniang Panglunsod for failing to pass her request for a P5-million supplemental budget for the barangay-based solid waste management fund.

That puts the once cleanest and greenest city of the country in danger of smelling rotten. Garbage piles are seen all over. And in many parts of the city, residents have resorted to burning waste just to rid their neighborhoods of garbage.

Power Bills

I recall how my daughters in Metro Manila were astonished at the amount I pay for my electric bills compared to theirs. Now, when I peruse my power bill, I am startled at the many charges billed against me despite the fact that I don’t use an air-conditioner.

Ceneco president Eddie Guillem must have realized that the public flak was bound to hit him hard. He clarified last Wednesday that the ICERA hike is not an increase in basic rate, just an incremental currency exchange adjustment by the National Power Corp. That, after Mayor Valdez protested that Guillem was not taking up the cudgels for the consumers.

Yesterday, I took a second look at my electric bill and discovered some very strange entries. There was the FPCA-Under Recovery Charge of P204.91 and immediately below that, the ICERA of P145.88.

Under Transmission Charge, there was P450.54 for transmission, and then, a systems loss charge of P377.96.

Again, there was the mystifying distribution system charge of P361.57 and another P168.89 for supply charges.

More intriguing was the P188.58 for metering system charge.

There were the mollifying entries of P122.29 deduction for interclass cross subsidy, P198.30 for power act reduction and P49.51 for loan condonation.

The bill amounted to a total of P3,129.68!

The thing that bothered me was that I was already being dunned for P450.54 for transmission charge and still billed P361.57 for distribution system charge, aside from the P377.96 for system loss charge. And, worse, the P188.58 for metering system charge.

It’s mind-boggling. My electric meter has been there for quite a time now, yet I’m being billed for the metering charge, aside from the P5 for retailer customer charge.

Worse, I am already paying for the transmission system charge, and yet I also have to pay for distribution system charge.

In short, transmission is not distribution. That’s hair-splitting for the sake of taxing the consumers more.

I guess it’s time for Congress to take a second look into how the Napocor and Transco have been sucking the public dry, especially during this time when most families can hardly afford the daily cost of living.

Messy NBI Clearance

The delay in the processing of clearances by the National Bureau of Investigation office in Bacolod has elicited comments not only from the public, but even from Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon.

The reason: Many who are having their papers processed have complained of an additional charge for "coffee money." And, of course, the usual delaying tactics used when one cannot come across.

That prompted the provincial executive to invite the complainants to his office to formally lodge their gripes against the shenanigans.

Well, an overseas Filipino worker finally summoned the courage to lodge his complaint last Wednesday with office of the governor.

Cirston Locsin Jr., 45, sought the help of the governor’s office for what he described as "inutile" service by the local NBI office. After paying P115 for the processing fee, Locsin was told that it may take time because his name was on the "hit list."

This means his name was among those in the NBI index of people who have criminal records. Nothing wrong with that.

The catch, however, is that it could take a long time to get the clearance because on March 27, they said their computer "bogged down."

The problem is when Locsin followed up his papers on May 27, this time the NBI personnel claimed that the computer in Manila had bogged down. "It seems the virus is people, not the computer," was how Locsin described his frustration.

While the NBI officer-in-charge, Celso Estorga, has been re-assigned to Dumaguete City, the two agents who had badmouthed several women reporters of the "capitol brats" are still around and have not even been investigated. This, despite the complaints filed against them by the Negros Press Club, the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). It seems stonewalling is not only confined to Congress during the national canvass.

Gina — A Welcome Whiff

Ma. Georgina A. Perez de Venecia (Gina) returned to Bacolod yesterday — no longer on the campaign trail, but as guest speaker of the Zonta Club of Bacolod. The wife of Speaker Jose de Venecia is president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc.

The local Zonta Club is made up of the "working rich" and business executives who have been going great guns in helping thousands of women, especially the needy and the less privileged.

The roster of the local Zontians represents a cross-section of outstanding Negrense ladies. For many Negrenses, these names stand out as examples of concern and social responsibility. Thus, Mrs. De Venecia’s coming here as their guest speaker represents a sort of breakthrough in Zonta’s quest for more external resources for their social outreach activities.

Gigi Gaston delivered the invocation and Susan Bautista led the Zonta prayer. Mrs. Josefa Puentevella, spouse of Rep. Monico Puentevella, delivered the welcome address. Mrs. Mila Moya presented the guests and visiting Zontians. They included Mrs. Martier Klepp, Zonta Club of Cebu II and Area 3 director, and Mrs. Elena C. Young, treasurer of District 17 in Cebu.

Ma. Belen Elizalde is the incoming president for 2004-2006. Her vice president is Sally L. Ledesma. The recording secretary is Carissa Maalat, with Aurora Fuentebella as the corresponding secretary. Carmen Maalat is the treasurer, and Isabel Trebol, her assistant. The directors are Merle T. Lizares, Isabel Orra, Marilyn Maranon, Josie Agustin and Ofelia C. Servando, the immediate past president.

Mrs. Kepp cited, among others, the projects to aid women and children, of the local Zonta Club. They include a day-care center in Villa Esperanza, where they also provide training for the mothers of the children; the Zonta Playland, a public playground, and the medical mission for the Villa Esperanza children.

These are just some of the things Zontians have done for the poor of Bacolod. And there are many more similar ones in the city, especially the various social outreach projects of the Rotarians and the Lions, which have made Bacolod a "livable mid-sized city."