Domondon: Legislative body rebuff Beneco's request for posting

THE City Council conducted its 9th regular session last Monday, presided over by Vice Mayor Daniel T. Fariñas, with much of its time spent discussing and deliberating on item two of the agenda. Given the nature and perceived complexity of other issues associated with the said matter, the august body deemed it appropriate to allocate ample time and opportunity for the ventilation of various concerns related to the request by the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) to post in the bulletin board of the City Hall its application for the approval of its Capital Expenditures (Capex) for the year 2010 to 2012 in compliance with the resolution of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and with the subsequent issuance of a certification to that effect.

During the said session several personalities connected with the abovementioned matter were present and in attendance which facilitated the flow of inquiry by members of the august body. Those who were present when the rules were suspended to accommodate them included Beneco General Manager Gerardo Versoza, Beneco Board President Ferdy Bayasen, Beneco Board of Director Atty. Benny Bomogao, Atty. Arthur Rullan of the Special Investigation Division (SID) of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Lorrie Javier of the Real Estate Brokers Association of the Philippines Inc. (Rebap), and Joel Jimenez of the National Real Estate Association (NREA).

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The presence of all these personalities at the regular session was mainly to clarify certain issues relative to the purchase by Beneco of a prime lot along South Drive in the City of Baguio which forms part of the Capex of the said electric utility firm.

It can be recalled that Beneco acquired a 1.2 hectare property along South Drive in the City in the amount of 183 Million pesos with the explanation that the said piece of land will be utilized by the said power utility firm for the establishment of a sub-station, a general headquarters building that will not only house the various Beneco offices but will also serve as a one-stop-shop for their clients, the provision of a stockyard and warehouse for tools and materials, parking space for vehicles and heavy equipment, provision for multi-purpose and recreational facilities, and replication of a peoples development academy such as that established in Cebu to serve as venue for trainings and seminars.

Beneco General Manager Gerardo Vesoza, during the discussion with council members, once more emphasized and reiterated that the 183 Million pesos purchase price of the lot shall not be passed on nor added to the existing rate which will be shouldered by consumers. Versoza stressed and guaranteed that rates shall not be increased as a result of the lot purchase nor will the consumers be made to suffer as a result of the said Capex project.

On the part of the members of the city council notably Councilors Fred Bagbagen, Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Richard Cariño, Erdolfo Balajadia, Nicasio Palaganas, Edison Bilog, and Perlita Chan Rondez, their queries focused on the propriety and appropriateness of the lot purchase, no prior consultation with consumers on the purchase of the land, the alleged exorbitant amount spent for the purchase of the property, and the alleged undervaluation in the declaration of the purchase price of the lot as submitted to the BIR.

After several hours of fruitful discussion with the invited personalities, the august body resumed their regular session and commenced to decide on the recommendation by the Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Traffic Legislation to approve the letter request of Beneco for them to post in the bulletin board of City Hall its application for the approval of CAPEX for 2010 to 2012 as required by ERC and the issuance of a certification bearing the dry seal of the City council as proof of posting.

After the raising of hands by the members, the motion to approve the said request by Beneco was deemed lost after the majority votes required for its approval was not met.

Meanwhile, the city council passed a resolution "Expressing deepest sympathies and profound condolences to the families of the August 23, 2010 hostage victims who were killed, and to the government and people of Hongkong." The expression of sympathy and condolences of the City was made upon the recommendation of the Committee on Tourism, Special Events, Parks and Playgrounds who observed that in light of the failed hostage rescue in Manila that took the lives of eight Hongkong nationals and subjected the country to international ridicule and embarrassment, as well as stained the reputation of the country as a secure tourist destination, it is only proper that the city government thru the city council do its share in restoring trust and credibility to the country. The committee further explained that as a humane and peace loving society, the city government and the people of Baguio also shares in the grief for the loss of loved ones.

Finally, the request of City Councilor Edison Bilog to deliver his privilege speech dealing on various issues and concerns in the City was deferred for the next regular session of the city council due in part to the lengthy deliberations and discussions made in connection with the unfulfilled request of Beneco.