The Power for People Coalition (P4P) criticized the Philippine Congress on Thursday for approving House Bill No. 10926, which extends Manila Electric Co.’s (Meralco) franchise by another 25 years.
The bill passed with 186 votes in favor, seven against, and four abstentions, a decision P4P says undermines public accountability.
“Meralco has scored a victory with the vote of the House of Representatives. It sends a clear signal to everyone that the lower house has no interest in holding the power company accountable for its dubious billing practices, its conflicts of interest as both a distribution utility and a generation company, and its process for bidding out power contracts. The message is, Meralco’s profits are more important than public interest,” said Gerry Arances, P4P Convenor.
Meralco serves 26 percent of the country’s population and half of its GDP, noted Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay, who sponsored the bill.
Arances argued that Meralco’s size and influence require “more stringent scrutiny” but added, “When you have the country’s lawmakers themselves rush the process of franchise renewal, then it shows the political clout of the company and may have a chilling effect on its regulators.”
P4P urged citizens, especially in Meralco’s franchise area, to monitor Senate Bill No. 2824, the Senate counterpart bill.
Arances added, “Let us make it clear to our senators that a vote to approve the Meralco franchise now is a vote for higher electricity prices and the sacrifice of public interest for the profits of a private company.”
