FDC In The News

May 6’s episode of GMA7’s Reporter’s Notebook, entitled “Kalbaryong Kuryente,” was a very educational presentation on why the country has the second highest cost of electricity in Asia and third in the world. The Coalition presented data and valid arguments and analysis on the issue.

To view video, please click here:
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/22230/Reporter’s-Notebook-Kalbaryong-Kuryente, or visit GMANews.TV and go to the video section (Public Affairs).

Also, GMA7’s interview with our campaigner, Job Bordamonte, representing EmPower Consumers, came out in 24 Oras (May 7) and Unang Hirit (May 8). View videos here:

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/22287/Groups-want-system-loss-charges-from-Meralco-bill-removed
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/22253/Consumers-want-Meralco-to-lower-system-loss-charges

Further, our statement and protest action against the high electricity rates came out in various online and print newspapers: May 8 - The Philippine Star (Page 4); May 7 - BusinessMirror (Page 1 story and banner photo); The Daily Tribune (Page 1 story); Malaya (Banner photo); BusinessWorld (Page 12/S1 photo); Tanod (Banner photo); People’s Journal (Banner photo); Pang-Masa (Page 2 photo); Taliba (Page 3 photo); May 5 & 6 - GMANews.TV; NewsBreak; and, ABS-CBNNews.Com. We also came out in RPN9.

The Philippine Star
08 May 2008, Page 4
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Headlines&p=49&type=2&sec=24&aid=20080507126

Headlines
ERC tells DTI to clarify petition for power rate cut
By Donnabelle Gatdula

(Con’t)

The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), for its part, said the administration’s effort to bring down power rates is “piecemeal and selective” and is unlikely to have significant impact.

“Filipinos, rich and poor alike, pay the second highest electricity rates in Asia. So, any move by the government to reduce exorbitant power rates in the midst of a devastating food crisis and the rising costs of other goods and services is welcome news to our people,” the FDC said in a statement.

“We believe, however, that piecemeal and selective action such as the bid by the Arroyo government to cut down Meralco’s distribution rates will not bring significant reduction in power rates,” it added.

[READ MORE]

BusinessMirror
07 May 2008, Page 1
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/05072008/headlines03.html

Relief from high power rates?
By Paul Anthony A. Isla
Reporter

(Con’t)

Meanwhile, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) enjoined other stakeholders in the power industry to find ways to relieve consumers from the burden of high electricity prices.

“Filipinos, rich and poor alike, pay the second-highest electricity rates in Asia. Thus, any move by the government to reduce exorbitant power rates in the midst of a devastating food crisis and the rising costs of other goods and services, is welcome news to our people,” FDC said in a statement.

FDC said it believes that that piecemeal and selective action such as the bid by the government to cut down distribution rates of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will not bring any significant reduction in charges.

[READ MORE]

Photo by Nonoy Lacza

The Daily Tribune
07 May 2008, Page 1
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20080507hed3.html

Gloria calls on masa to pressure Meralco
By Sherwin C. Olaes

(Con’t)

The Freedom from Debt Coalition for its part, urged the Arroyo government should stop the operation of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (Wesm.)

Bobby Diciembre of the Freedom from Debt Coalition said that contrary to its supposed mission of providing cheap supply of electricity, power sourced at Wesm was deviously high since it operated in July 2006, from a low of P2/kwh to as high as P12/kwh this month of April 2008. Because of this Psalm was charged for market manipulation in the Wesm, only to be cleared by the ERC for no plausible reason.

“Meralco must not oblige its customers to pay for pilferages and system losses incurred regularly.

Meralco’s system losses are beyond the responsibility of customers.”

[READ MORE]

Malaya
07 May 2008, Banner photo
Photo by Rolly Salvador

BusinessWorld
07 May 2008, Page 12/S1
Photo by Jonathan Cellona

Tanod
07 May 2008, Banner photo
Photo by Charlie Magno

People’s Journal
07 May 2008, Banner photo
Photo by J.R. Labanero

Pang-Masa (PM)
07 May 2008, Page 2
Photo by Boy Santos

GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/93550/Govt-bid-to-reduce-power-rates-piecemeal-selective—group#

Gov’t bid to reduce power rates ‘piecemeal, selective’ - group
Article posted May 06, 2008 - 12:39 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government’s proposal to bring down rates charged by Meralco, the country’s largest electric company, is merely “piecemeal” and “selective,” a coalition said.

In a statement, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) said that while it was supportive of the government’s attempt to reduce power rates, Malacañang should undertake a whole menu of reforms which would translate to lesser energy costs.

Besides calling for the cancellation of contracts with independent power producers—which force consumers to pay for ungenerated electricity—the group also clamored for the removal of the 12 percent value added tax on power.

[READ MORE]

Photo by Charlie Magno

ABS-CBNnews.com / NewsBreak
05 May 2008
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=117213
http://newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4564&Itemid=88889051

Consumer group blames IPPs for high power rates
By Aries Rufo

The onerous contracts entered into by the Ramos government with the independent power producers (IPPs) are the “root cause of high power rates,” the Freedom from Debt coalition said.

FDC media campaigner Bobby Diciembre told abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak that the power purchase agreements by government with IPPs is primarily the culprit for the high cost of power and that President Arroyo should take the blame as well for failing to renegotiate these the past seven years.

Diciembre said IPP contracts are clearly disadvantageous as they oblige government to pay for the contracted generation capacity of IPPs whether such was consumed or not.

[READ MORE]

GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/93134/Consumers-welcome-govt-move-to-hold-meeting-about-power-rate-hike#

Consumers welcome govt move to hold meeting about power rate hike
Article posted May 03, 2008 - 12:47 PM

MANILA, Philippines - A local alliance of electricity consumers welcomed the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) move to hold a consultative meeting on May 6. Besides bringing consumers and members of the energy industry together, the meeting intends to seek an explanation regarding the recent increase in electricity costs.

In a statement, EmPOWER Consumers also said that the “consultative meeting must be regularized.”

“ERC must no longer wait for consumers to ask for this meeting,” Maris dela Cruz, the group’s spokesperson said. “On its own, the agency should conduct meetings to explain sudden changes in the electric bills and other matters regarding developments which affect electricity pricing. The consumers have the right to know this especially during this time of crisis when every centavo is important to us.”

[READ MORE]