A personnel of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) District 6 in General Santos City explains to members of the media the process on how to monitor and manage energy in the control room of NGCP. (Maria Patricia C. Borromeo/davaotoday.com)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) assured reporters attending its enhancement training for energy journalists that they will be more transparent on updating the consumers on the electricity price.
ERC Commissioner, Atty. Gloria Victoria C. Yap-Taruc, advised consumers to check the update of electricity rates of the different distribution utilities (DU) on a website named kuryente.com.
“You can check the kuryente.com, that website was initiated during the time of Secretary Jericho Petilla, The rates are also placed there,” Atty. Taruc said.
Unfortunately, some reporters said that the website is always down and it is not updated at all.
”Baka nakuryete (Maybe it’s been electrocuted),” she said.
Taruc suggested that they could possibly issue a resolution or require cooperatives to update their website or Facebook page.
“Maybe we can issue a resolution or talk among ourselves if we can require cooperatives to post it similar to what other DUs are doing,” she said.
ERC conducted a 2-day training for energy journalists to discuss about basic mandates and procedures of the commission and the technicalities in discussing energy. During the training, a reporter said he was concerned about the transparency of the ERC in updating the consumers when there is an electricity price hike or rollback.
Jose Vicente B. Salazar, ERC chairman and chief executive officer also explained that they would prioritize this issue since this is one way they could support the consumers in pointing out whether or not their decision are right.
“I guess this is very important and definitely going to prioritize this, as what we said earlier transparency,” Salazar said.
Salazar said “this commission we have now will protect the consumers, and if there are errors, mistakes or there are things that should be protected for some of our people are not doing their functions.”
He assured that they will take action on the complains and are open to suggestions.
Atty. Floresinda G. Baldo-Digal, said that they are trying to be transparent on the localities, especially in the parameters and factors to consider in taking a raise in electricity price.
“We can only present there that our decision in the ERC have basis,” Digal said. (davaotoday.com)
