Oh, it may just have been a Christmas gift – Iloilo power solution

Well, it seems that the electricity rate hike granted by the Energy Regulation Commission (ERC) to the Panay Electric Company (PECO) was just intended to relieve Ilonggos of blackouts during Christmas. But, as pointed out by a Panay Power Corp. (PPC) spokesman, operations can be sustained only until the first week of January.

The message — brace yourselves, Ilonggos, for more problems. That was just a Christmas reachout.

PECO buys its power supply from the PPC. It is the sole distributor of power in Iloilo City.

And yesterday, Negrense mediamen were invited by the Dinagyang Foundation for a briefing on preparations for the city’s celebration of the Feast of Santo Niño in Iloilo which falls on the third week of January.

While Iloilo is preparing for the Dinagyang, it seems that the prospects of unimpeded dry-runs by the various tribus in preparation for their impressive competition, a top-drawer, may bog down in the face of the impending power blackouts.

But Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas announced that the National Power Corp. will provide a 15-day fuel supply to sustain the operations of its power plants until Jan. 8.

Treñas said nothing is definite beyond Jan. 8, but gave assurance that everybody is trying to work out a permanent solution to the PPC-PECO problem.

But PPC vice president Arman Lapus said, "If we are unable to collect our full generation cost soon, we may find ourselves at risk of defaulting on our loans and being forced out of business."

He did admit that Shell has agreed to continue delivery of fuel while they discuss PPC’s arrears.

Last week, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla gave assurance of continued power supply to Iloilo, the regional center of Western Visayas.

PECO reportedly had filed to pay PPC its outstanding debts of more than P364 million.

The ERC granted a provisional authority to PECO to increase its rate by around P2 per kilowatt-hour. It also directed the electric firm to connect to the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid so it could tap into the power supply of Napocor.

But there was the warning by Transco that Panay would still need to source the additional power needed for the island despite its connection with the Negros-Cebu grid.

In short, that directive does not necessarily mean the problem of Panay will be solved by January next year — or thereafter.

That undercuts the tourism promotion of Iloilo City and Iloilo province for the Dinagyang, one of the top-drawing attractions of Iloilo City yearly.

Well, at least we still can greet everyone Merry Christmas!!

Bomb threats vs Aklan radio station

I was making preparations to go to Aklan this January to attend the Ati-Atihan of Ibajay, Aklan. But it seems that Nestor Burgos Jr. of the Visayan Daily Star beat me to it when he posted the report of Aklan radio station dyRG having received a bomb threat for the upcoming Ati-Atihan Festival.

DyRG manager Augusto Tolentino cannot just dismiss the phone calls as pranks. Two journalists of the province have already fallen victims to assassins — Rolando Ureta and Herson Hinolan, the latter of Bombo Radyo.

Ureta was program manager of dyKR. He was shot dead on Jan. 3, 2001 in Bagtu in Lezon, Aklan.

Hinolan was gunned down at the Kalibo plaza on Nov. 13 last year just after attending the carnival in Aklan’s capital town.

The case of Hinolan is still pending in court. Both, for that matter, are expected to be heard following the arraignment of the suspects, including an Aklan town mayor.

In the latest incident, the first threat was received by technician Joel Juliano in the afternoon of last Dec. 13. This was followed by another call two hours later, according to Burgos’ report.

The phone caller reportedly mentioned about Jujet Reyes and another person regarding their reports on criminal activities in the province.

On Dec. 18, the same caller told Juliano that he would toss grenades at the station on Jan. 15, saying that it would be the biggest news during the Ati-Atihan festival.

Tolentino suspects that dyRG, which has mounted a sustained campaign against illegal gambling in the province, may have aired the gambling lords of Aklan.

Aklan police director William Macaventa ordered an immediate investigation into the identities of probable suspects, and the possible motives. He also ordered increased police patrols in Barangay Agdagan where the dyRG station is located.

Ironically, this latest development in the threats against journalists occurred just as Speaker Jose de Venecia ordered the release of P2 million from the House to augment the funds administered by the NUJP, the National Press Club and the Philippine Institute of Investigative Journalism to help address the continued killings of journalists in the Philippines, mostly in the countryside.

The young at Simbang Gabi

My attention was caught by the report of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines deploring that the youth have been shying away from attending the Simbang Gabi.

That may be true in Luzon-based dioceses. But over here, at least in the Bacolod Diocese, I have noticed that the churches are usually filled with young people. They may be boisterous. Some even chat while the Mass is going on. But they are there. They share in the early dawn Masses. And often, they are more than the adults whom they trail behind when entering churches.

And, yes, the most common talk among them — "How many Masses have you already attended?" Do you intend to complete the novena Masses?

That’s comforting enough. After all, to a certain extent, the economic crisis may have been deplored by most, but it may have contributed to more youngsters attending the sacrifice of the Mass before Christmas.

Alleluiah! God is at His creative best during crises.

ADDENDA. Some 5,000 indigent residents of Dumaguete City received gifts from the city government Wednesday. The gift packs were worth only P130 each, but, as pointed out by Vice Mayor William Ablong, it is the spirit of sharing with the less fortunate that is more meaningful. The yearly project has been going on during the last 17 years under the term of Mayor Agustin Perdices…. The police are still clueless on the death of PO2 Roberto Getaruelas Jr., who was felled by three bullets last Monday night just behind the police station in Maslog, Sibulan town. Motorcycle-riding men reportedly fired at Getaruelas along the highway. He was shot in the head first by one of the gunmen. Another, a back-up on another motorcycle, shot him to ensure that he was dead in the canal where he had fallen. Sibulan police chief Gregorio Ramos said Getaruelas was active in the anti-illegal drugs campaign in Dumaguete City and Zamboanguita town. Another angle being eyed was his recent arrest of a suspected holdupper who claimed to have been a former Army man. His killers also took off with Getaruelas’ caliber .38 revolver.