Monday, January 01, 2007 Exec denies abandoning Asin plants By Rimaliza Opina and Jane Cadalig
CITY Administrator Fianza belied reports the City Government abandoned the Asin mini hydroelectric power plants after its former operator - the Aboitiz-owned Hydroelectric Corporation - ceded management to the city last December 26.
Fianza however admitted that following the city's take over, some residents diverted water from the flume lines, resulting to the three power plants' shutdown.
He also admitted that no contract was finalized with the 26 employees of HedCor who were absorbed by the city government purposely to maintain the plants' machines.
But Fianza assured the city government would hire all of these employees albeit with lower salaries compared to what they'd received under HedCor.
He said the employees were advised to observe their usual shifting schedules and assured that once the management committee approves the terms and conditions of their respective contracts, their salaries would be paid in full.
Under the HedCor management, the 26 employees were receiving a monthly salary from P11,000 to P17,000.
And while plans are being worked on how the city government would manage the facility pending arrangements whether to bid it out, Fianza, who heads the technical working committee and secretariat of the management committee (ManCom), said he would propose to the ManCom to classify the Asin Hydro management as a special project of the city government. This way, the employees would be placed under a special contract and would be accorded the same salaries previously paid by HedCor.
Fianza meanwhile lamented the diversion done by the Tadiangan-Nangalisan Hydro Ancestral Landowners Association headed by Roger Sinot.
"TNHLA could have waited until things have settled. In the first place, the city is still pondering options as to how it could maximize the facilities' efficiency and profitability," Fianza said, adding the diversion was uncalled for.
He explained the city has yet to be clarified of the claims of Asin residents when the TNHLA held the city government 'hostage' just to pressure the city officials to give in to their demands.
But these claims, Fianza said, have not been properly communicated to the city government. "Our city managers were not remiss in studying a win-win situation for all parties concerned but with the diversion of water, expect a lot more people to be affected by the shutdown."
But Sinot cited the failure of the city to negotiate with property owners affected by the plants' operations as reason for diverting the water from the flume lines, causing the three Asin hydros to shut down.
He, however, said the group already restored the water leading to the plants last December 29, after they were assured that the national Commission on Indigenous Peoples would intervene to settle the tiff.
The group's move reportedly caused black out in villages covered by the power plants.
Sinot said the action was because of the seeming inaction of the city to the demands of affected landowners.
But he stressed their action should not be blamed for the black out because the Asin hydros are not the only sources of power in the area. "We should not be blamed for the (black out) because even without the three plants, there should always be power. The Asin hydros are only one of the sources of power."
Among the reasons that reportedly forced the group to divert water is the failure of city officials to negotiate with the landowners regarding their demands for compensation and rentals of properties affected by the hydros' operations.
"We have asked for a dialogue with the city in the presence of our officials but only (city administrator Peter) Fianza appeared without assurance that our claims will be granted," said Sinot.
He added the belated settlement of their claims for rentals would disappoint interested parties to bid for the operation of the power plants. "Who would be interested to bid for the operation of the hydros if problems exist with the affected landowners?"(With reports from Isagani Liporada)
