Friday, November 24, 2006 Council lauded for Asin hydro takeover plan By Rimaliza Opiña
A CONCERNED citizen on Thursday commended the City Council for passing a resolution on the possible hiring of contractual employees to operate and maintain the city-owned Asin hydroelectric plants in Tuba, Benguet.
Stressing that the facility is a valuable property of the City Government, City Engineer Willie Hernandez said the hydroelectric plants has to be viewed as growth-inducing facility that should not be taken for granted.
"It is gratifying to know that the Baguio City Council is not only paying more attention to the problem on how to resolve the management of the Asin hydro power plant but is also considering viable plans to operate it properly. After all, this power plant is not just another facility with no or little value at all," Hernandez said.
He also expressed his reservation regarding the proposed privatization of the facility.
Hernandez said awarding the management of Asin plants to a private firm is tantamount to "turning away from their obligations of providing basic services."
He, however, believed that the City Government could manage the hydro power plants, adding that this could be a key source of revenue for the city's development.
On the suspicion of a done deal between the city and the Hydroelectric Corporation (HedCor), the current manager of the facility following the lapse of the contract with the Baguio Water District (BWD) on August 31, Hernandez suggested that city officials should come up with policies that would ensure transparency in the bidding process.
Acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. has yet to approve the resolution for the interim takeover of the facilities by the City Government.
