Labor, business back measures vs. high electricity rates
Small Filipino businessmen reportedly concede that it is not wage
which is eating up a huge chunk of their profits, but energy costs.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – Labor and business found an issue to agree on when they
discussed last Monday the high electricity rates in the country and how
it burdens both sectors. In a forum held at the University of the
Philippines–Diliman, leaders from labor and business groups called on
the government of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to immediately
take action to reduce electricity rates in the country.
Participants to the forum dubbed as “Highest Power Rates in Asia: A
Labor-Business Consultation on Electricity,” urged Aquino to reject
petitions for rate hikes, stop hearings for such petitions, terminate
onerous contracts with independent power producers, and investigate the
PSALM Corporation and Napocor to determine the government’s true
financial obligations.
(Photo by Pia Arellano / bulatlat.com)
“High electricity rates are a huge burden to Filipino workers already suffering from meager wages and the increasing prices of basic goods and services,” said Roger Soluta, KMU secretary general. The labor center has twice rallied in front of the head office of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) last month to protest the latest price hikes it had imposed.
Price hikes in utilities reportedly dig deep into the pockets of the Filipino working class, considering that their wages have not improved much over the past decade. In fact, in a research with the title “Prices and Earnings” released last August 2011 by UBS (formerly Union Bank of Switzerland), where they compared price levels, wage levels and purchasing power in 72 cities, they found out that Manila ranks second lowest in price levels, second lowest in wage levels, and third lowest in purchasing power..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/12/02/labor-business-back-measures-vs-high-electricity-rates%E2%80%A8/
1 comment
tanungin ninyo sino nagluklok diyan kay gloria arrobo na nagdala ng epira law sa atin? at labas pa sa epira eh ang kuntsabahan ng mga dilaw para sa dagdag PERAng labag na sa batas.
"“We do not want to pay for so-called costs added by private companies on our electricity bills that only go to their pockets. We do not want to pay for electricity that we did not consume, for the costly purchases made by Napocor and different distribution utilities and for costs accruing from the inefficiency of the IPP’s,” Soluta said during the forum.
"All these costs have been legally computed into the public’s electricity bill through “unbundling” and other forms of deregulations brought about by the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Act), a law enacted under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo 10 years ago"
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