Friday, September 08, 2006
Dads deny ‘done deal’ in Asin hydro management
THE acting mayor and vice mayor of Baguio clarified on Thursday that reports of a secret contract having been finalized between city officials and the Hydroelectric Corporation (Hedcor) for the management of the Asin hydro power plants are false.
Acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. disclosed that the formulation of terms and conditions to bid out the facility is still in the works, and the letter, which he sent recently to the management of Hedcor, merely echoed the suggestion of the Asin hydro task force.
Acting Vice Mayor Leandro Yangot Jr., the concurrent chair of the Asin hydro task force, confirmed this when he revealed that the terms of reference (TOR) will only be ready for submission to the City Council for its approval within a month’s time.
But with the admission that the City does not have the technical expertise to manage and maintain the power plants, it was agreed that in the interim, Hedcor would go on managing the facility. "This is to avoid losses," Yangot explained.
In 1981, the Baguio Water District (BWD) and Hedcor forged an agreement for the maintenance of the facility within a 25-year period.
The City Government took over control of the power plants last September 1, following the lapse of the contract with the BWD.
On suggestions that the BWD should still manage the Asin hydro plants, Yangot said this will no longer be possible because its members already signified that they do not intend to renew the said contract. "Renewal with BWD is a dead issue," he stressed. (RO)
(September 8, 2006 issue)
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