Series of power rate hikes are economic crimes against the people--CPP
June 11, 2004

The Communist Party of the Philippines today severly criticized the successive government orders allowing the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) and the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to increase electricity rates and called these "economic crimes" against the already overburdened Filipino people.

Yesterday, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved a 13.7 centavo per kilowatt-hour MERALCO rate hike starting July. On top of this, the ERC also approved NAPOCOR rate hikes of 14 centavos per kwh for Luzon, 23 centavos for Visayas and 38 centavos for Mindanao, all starting retroactively with the May 26 billings. The NAPOCOR rate increases will further increase MERALCO rates, since the latter resells 45% of NAPOCOR-generated electricity.

In a statement, CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said that these latest additions to a seemingly endless series of electricity rate increases cruelly and callously burden the people all the more while fattening the pocketbooks of "independent power producers" (IPPs), especially the Lopezes who own MERALCO and several other IPPs.

"Unjustly jacking up power rates constitutes grave economic crimes against the Filipino people," Rosal said.

Rosal added that it is obvious to everyone that Arroyo is repaying her electoral debts to the Lopez oligarchs at the expense of the people. "Hindi pa nga tapos ang bilangan, nagbabayad na si Arroyo ng mga utang sa mga Lopez."

Rosal said that the Arroyo government's total lack of concern for the people's welfare is not disguised at all by her feigning to seek postponement of the rate hike's implementation.

Rosal said the new series of power rate hikes compounded with the recent series of oil price hikes and the rising prices of food and other basic commodities have become too much for the people to bear.

He added that, even prior to these, the people have been seething in indignation over massive cheating and rampant violence in the May elections and growing restless with the overly-contentious and long-drawn canvassing of presidential and vice-presidential votes.

"The rising anger of the people over all these economic and political scourges is gathering into a powerful storm of people's protests," Rosal said.

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553

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Series of power rate hikes are economic crimes against the people--CPP June 11, 2004

Series of power rate hikes are economic crimes against the people--CPP
June 11, 2004