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SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2017
Ormeco GM defies NEA firing C By Robert A. Evora
ALAPAN CITY—The National Electrification Administration has replaced the general manager of the Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative Inc. or Ormeco in the wake of its alleged failure to provide quality service despite repeated complaints from member-consumers. NEA Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong designated, effective Aug. 16, Orlando M. Andres as Ormeco acting GM and project supervisor in lieu of Patrocinio M. Panagsagan Jr. Panagsagan, however, defied the order to vacate his office. Unidentified persons, backed by some Ormeco officials and employees loyal to the outgoing general manager, barricaded the cooperative’s office in Barangay Sta. Isabel, preventing Andres from assuming office. In his office order, Masongsong directed Andres to “manage the day-to-day operations of Ormeco to ensure the efficient delivery of electric service to member-consumers” and “perform other tasks for the purpose of operational efficiency.” Panagsagan’s non-compliance “only exacerbates the nagging power problem in Oriental Mindoro especially in Puerto Galera,” some Ormeco member-consumers told the Manila Standard, requesting anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue. Ormeco and Panagsagan have been criticized for saying the
area faces a total blackout for 300 days if generators are not installed in Puerto Galera’s Barangay San Isidro (White Beach) on time. The National Power Corp., as grid owner, will shut down the transmission line going from Calapan City to Puerto Galera until the end of December this year to start the full rehabilitation of its 69-kv power transmission line, Panagsagan said last week.
Tourists in Puerto Galera, a major resort town, were preparing to leave while visitors who booked in advance have canceled their reservations in anticipation of the blackout. The NEA earlier issued show cause orders to Ormeco and Palawan Electric Cooperative Inc. (Paleco) asking their respective officials why they should not be sanctioned or be hailed to the
proper courts for gross negligence or gross neglect of their duties to their member-consumers. “We need to ensure that ECs [electric cooperatives] are responsive and always on the lookout for the best interest of their consumers. In this case, we are in receipt of numerous complaints against the two cooperatives,” Masongsong said in a statement.
HISTORIC MACHINES. The Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center has scored historic double first with its newly acquired machines, the world’s first Koelis Trinity fusion biopsy technology, BK 5000/3000 ultrasound systems, now at the hospital’s Institute of Urology. Unveiling the machines are (from right) CGHMC chairman Dr. Benito Goyokpin, Institute of Urulogy director Dr. Jason Letran, president, CEO and administrator Dr. James G. Dy, medical director Dr. Modesto Llamas, associate medical director Dr. Tan King King, Department of OB-Gyn chairman Dr. Elizabeth Go, and director Antonio Dino. Lino Santos
‘We didn’t dump S. Korean trash in Cebu landfill’ By Junex Doronio CEBU CITY—Mayor Tomas Osmeña has castigated Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino for his purported failure to check the truth behind the allegation that the mayor agreed to dump 5,000 metric tons of garbage from South Korea at the landfill in Barangay Inayawan here. Osmeña described as a “blatant lie” the allegation of a certain Felix S. Lopez Jr. who wrote to President Rodrigo Duterte, saying the
mayor agreed that the garbage be dumped at Inayawan. Rep. Gwen Garcia, the former Cebu governor, had led a hearing at the House of Representatives on Tuesday on how the mixed trash from South Korea “sneaked out” of the Bureau of Customs in Cebu and to look into allegations that local government officials colluded to have the shipment dumped at Inayawan. But Osmeña said the House committee on ecology, chaired by Garcia, should also ask Dino if his
office “conducted due diligence in checking the veracity of the contents starting with the identity of the letter sender, before forwarding this to the higher offices concerned.” “After all, Dino is supposedly the assistant of President Rodrigo Duterte in the Visayas. Is it not his job to conduct due diligence before anything gets forwarded to Malacañang?” Osmeña said. Elvira Cruz, Customs Port of Cebu district collector, has strongly denied involvement in the release of the shipment that arrived
in Cebu from Jeju Port in South Korea on Jan. 20. Cruz assumed office as district collector of the Port of Cebu on Jan. 19. On Feb. 8, she issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the shipment for intentional misdeclaration. The shipment was delivered to a warehouse in Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City and the trash was eventually dumped in an open dumpsite in Barangay Tingub, not in Barangay Inayawan. Of the five million kilos of trash,
250,000 kilos was shipped back to South Korea last March, while the remaining 250,000 kilos stored at the Guizo warehouse was declared abandoned by BOC-Cebu. Port of Cebu Customs examiner Dennis Adisas admitted not examining the shipment physically. He said he only examined the shipment documents and relied on the Port Load of Survey Report from the port of origin. The Port Load of Survey Report stated the shipment contained recyclable plastic resins and wood chips.
‘Report erring police to PLEB’ By Bill Casas TO CLEANSE the city police of “bad eggs,” Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Friday urged Manileños to report abusive members of the Manila Police District to the city’s People’s Law Enforcement Board. Estrada said the City of Manila has an efficient and wellfunctioning PLEB under the able leadership of anti-crime advocate Teresita Ang See, who serves as the board’s executive chairwoman. “We are fortunate to have Madam Teresita in our PLEB. With her, we are assured of fair and speedy resolution of all complaints filed against erring law enforcers,” Estrada said. “The people can complain to PLEB. Next time you encountered an abusive cop, file a complaint before the board. You will be heard and adequately protected,” Estrada said. Manila, he said, has a PLEB in each of the city’s six districts, with the main office located at the 5th floor of the City Hall. Section 43 of Republic Act 6975 provides for the creation of PLEBs in every city and municipality to hear and adjudicate citizens’ complaints against uniformed members of the Philippine National Police. Under the law, the establishment of PLEBs is mandated to the local government units that have the primary responsibility of making sure the Boards are functioning in their areas of jurisdictions. PLEBs are authorized to impose corresponding penalties that ranges from the withholding of the privileges, restriction to specified limits, suspension or forfeiture of salary or fine, demotion in rank of not more than one rank or dismissal from the service of the erring police personnel. See said her office welcomes any complaint and grievance against MPD lawmen and with sufficient basis they will initiate a series of hearings in soonest possible time.
QC adds Asean Mayors Forum unveils Taguig Action Agenda P1 to movie tickets By Rio N. Araja THE Quezon City government will impose a P1 increase per admission ticket in cinemas in October to support the Boy Scout and Girl Scouts of the Philippines-Quezon City Council. The increase is embodied in City Ordinances 2595 and 2596 authored by District Councilor Elizabeth Delarmente. The funds will go to the BSP and GSP fund to support their programs and activities. Under the regulation, all cinema owners and operators are required to transmit and turn over to the BSP and GSP-Quezon City Council the collected proceeds, and report to the city treasurer that shall submit a corresponding report to the council. The BSP and GSP-QC Council have been involved in promoting character development, providing adequate citizenship training and leadership among the Filipino youth of the city aside from inculcating love of country, civic consciousness and responsibility, courage and discipline, and other similar moral virtues and values, the ordinances say. Meanwhile, Quezon City’s Barangay Sto. Cristo clinched the best barangay disaster risk reduction and management council award in the 18th Regional Gawad Kalasag, an acronym for “Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan.”
Local chief executives from various cities across Southeast Asia join hands to mark the adoption of the Taguig Action Agenda during the recent Asean Mayors Forum in Taguig City.
THE recent 3rd Asean Mayors Forum saw the introduction and signing of the Taguig Action Agenda, an action plan for cities in Southeast Asia, which will serve as the reference document for future collaboration among local governments in the Asean to ensure the regional bloc’s inclusivity and sustainability. Signing the communiqué were Asean local chief executives who attended the two-day forum held in Taguig City. The event, organized by the League of Cities of the Philippines, the City of Taguig, and UCLG-ASPAC, aimed to bring the Asean Connectivity Roadmap, Asean Vision 2025, and other global landmark commitments at a local level. PLDT, the country’s largest telecommunications and digital service company, has given its full support as the Diamond Sponsor of this year’s Forum. “PLDT is proud to partner with the LCP for the 3rd Asean Mayor’s Forum,” said Dennis Magbatoc, PLDT Enterprise AVP and head of Public Sector. “The AMF is an innovative platform that will bring to the fore the League of Cities of the Philippines and Taguig City’s capability to unite Asean cities towards connectivity and empowerment,” he added. Other groups supporting the event include Uber, the Official Ridesharing Partner of the ASEAN Mayors Forum; Silver Sponsors such as Pagcor, San Miguel Corp., and CityNet; and Bronze Sponsors such as Foton, KonradAdenauer-Stiftung, Alro Construction & Development Corp., and Huawei Technologies Philippines.
Cleanfuel unwraps new Batangas station in Lipa NOW, there is one more reason for residents of Southern Luzon, especially Batanguenos, to say “Ala eh, ka gandang balita nire!” (“Ah, this is good news!”). That is because Cleanfuel, the country’s leading supplier of environment-friendly fuels, is opening its newest branch in JP Laurel Ave., Brgy. Marawoy, Lipa City in Batangas. Cleanfuel is a full-service gasoline station, offering not only AutoLPG but also high quality Euro 4 Diesel, Unleaded 91, and Premium 95 octane gasoline, for less. It has a customer rewards
program, credit card facility, canteen, spacious and clean airconditioned restrooms, which are ready to serve you 24/7. This new branch strengthens Cleanfuel’s presence in southern Tagalog, bringing quality fuel and services closer to residents and businesses in Batangas. For more information about Cleanfuel and its other stations, please call (02) 655-6407; (02) 655-9219 or visit its website at www.cleanfuel.ph. Cleanfuel – Your Fuel for the Environment! Quality Fuel for Less!