Malabon gov’t hounded by electricity pilferage

The Malabon City government has unearthed a scheme by unscrupulous persons and private entities, apparently in cahoots with officials, to steal electricity from the city hall at the expense of city taxpayers.

City hall is currently saddled with an P8-million debt from the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and facing disconnection of service.

City Mayor Canuto "Tito" Oreta just found this out and immediately ordered City Engineer Ulysses Tumbocon and General Services Office (GSO) chief Benjamin Villacorta to immediately cut the illegal connections.

He pointed out that savings in electricity can now be used for basic services.

"Kailangan nating ipatupad ang mga gawaing ito (disconnecting illegal connections) para masiguro nating mas malaking bahagi ng pondo ng siyudad ay nagagamit sa edukasyon, kalusugan at iba pang mga gawaing pambayan," Oreta said.

The mayor said they have yet to determine how long the pilferage has been going on. He added that those responsible would be facing appropriate charges independent and separate from whatever may be slapped against them by the utilities firm.

An investigation is now underway to determine the identity of the persons behind the illegal connections.

The mayor, who is rationalizing expenditures of the city government in the face of dwindling revenues, revealed yesterday that several establishments, both commercial and residential, has been illegally tapping the Meralco lines at the city hall.

Discovered by city hall and Meralco operatives were some 10 stalls at the public market, 15 private houses, several night shift ambulant eateries, and two canteens located inside the local police headquarters. Also identified by Abbi Balatbat, Oreta’s spokesperson, were a local office of a popular civic organization and a building housing the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

At present, Oreta said the city government has a backlog of two years in unpaid bills left behind by the previous administration amounting to P7,711,954.21 from Meralco. The average monthly electric consumption by city hall in 2004 is P394,386.

Because of the lack of funds, Oreta did not rehire city hall employees with non-government positions whose contracts expired June 30, 2004, the day he officially assumed office as new city mayor.