Friday, April 11, 2008 Ileco 1 stiff in cutting-off airport's power supply By Jay Dooma Balnig
ENGINEER Wilfred Billena of the Iloilo Electric Cooperative 1 (Ileco 1) is determined to cut off the power supply of the New Iloilo Airport (NIA) by April 15 if its management fails to pay the remaining P5.5 million electric bills.
Governor Niel Tupas Sr., who is now working hard in giving remedy to the power problem, sees National Power Corporation (NCP) as the possible agency to take over the supply of electricity for the airport.
But Tupas was saddened after knowing from Engineer Rey Jaleco, Panay Area manager of Transco, that inter-connection from NCP through Transco to the NIA will take time.
Should Ileco 1 cut off their lines on April 15, the NIA will have no choice but to use their generator set until they could find a new power supplier, according to Billena, who is presently in Metro Manila.
Tupas talked to Jaleco and other concerned agencies in an effort to save the NIA from losing electricity.
As the April 15 deadline of IIeco 1 nears, Tupas is now moving fast to troubleshoot the airport problem.
Engineer Billena set the deadline for Air Transportation Office (ATO) to pay the electric bills amounting to P6.5 million accumulated since January to March this year. However, ATO only paid P1 million to Ileco 1, leaving a P5.5 million balance.
According to Tupas, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is yet to release the cash allotment for the airport.
DBM provides a monthly budget of P1 million to the Iloilo Airport but according to ATO, it failed to give the said allotment during the first quarter of this year.
But Billena, said Tupas, wants to disconnect the power supply of Iloilo Airport from their power line for reasons that their electric cooperatives could no longer sustain the airport's electricity needs.
Ileco 1 is purchasing its power from National Power Corporation through Transco and the Ibon River Company.
Tupas is also seeking the help of the National Government to resolve the power crisis. "Should Ileco 1 shut off their supply, indi lang kita mahuy-an, ang National Government man eh (it is not only us who will be shamed, but also the National Government)," he said.
