Senator Zubiri sees BSTC as a burden to consumers

By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent

Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said the creation of the Bukidnon Sub-Transmission Corporation (BSTC) has given more burden after it gives another layer of pass-on rates to consuming public within the service area of Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative (Buseco).

This was the initial observation made by Zubiri during the conduct of a public hearing on the Senate Committee on Energy chaired by Senator Wayne Gatchalian and to the Committee on Cooperatives.

Over the weekend, the Committee on Energy has conducted an investigation in aid for legislation, on the impending power disconnection of the BSTC to the service area of Buseco in the province of Bukidnon with the end view of preventing the recurrence of similar events that disrupt economic activities and protecting the interest of the general public.

“Gihatagan og disconnection notice sa BSTC ang Buseco which disrupted 19 district and municipal hospitals, thousand of big and micro

businesses and even public service of various local government units (LGU),” he said.

During the meeting, representatives from the Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) informed the Senate Committee’s that they had issued “status quo anti-order” to cease and desist BSTC from implementing the disconnection.

“Dako kini nga puwerhisyo sa BSTC kung ilang ipadayon,” he said.

He recommended that BSTC creation must be under protest and needs franchise order from the House of Representatives and the Senate itself to verify similar incidents that Bukidnon has been suffering.

BUSECO is servicing the City of Malaybalay, Municipalities of Lantapan, Cabanglasan, Impasug-ong, Sumilao, Manolop Fortich, Malitbog, Libona, Baungon, Talakag, and Brgy. Lingayon in Valencia City.

Zubiri said if this issue would not be abated, those areas affected by the power disconnection of BSTC are industrial, agro-industrial and

commercial districts of the Province of Bukidnon, thus such power disconnection will have serious economic impact in the whole province.

“The impending power disconnection by BSTC is causing widespread panic and anxiety to the people and end-consumers in the service area of Buseco. This will also cause serious injury on households, business, schools, financial institutions and will hamper the delivery of basic services by the LGU such as social and security services,” he said.

The creation of BSTC contains possible conflict with other cooperatives in the future because it has contain many gray areas because the transmission and distribution of electric power are imbued with public interest and shall be a regulated common electricity carrier business and therefore subject to power of the ERC as specified in the Energy Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

“My plan is to amend the EPIRA Law and make it clearer. All distribution power companies must pass through Congress and Senate to

obtain franchise in every area because this is a public interest,” he added.

Zubiri said EPIRA Law must obtain administrative penalties to all power utilities that commit infraction like BSTC that threatens more

than 600 thousand residents.