Panay Electric Company (PECO) corporate affairs manager Mikel Afzelius on Thursday, Sept. 12, said they are planning to refile in the House of Representatives their application for franchise renewal.

This, after the House committee on legislative franchises disapproved on Wednesday, Sept. 11, a bill renewing the power distributor’s franchise.

The bill was first filed in July 2017. It was refiled by Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano of Abang Lingkod party-list last Aug. 22.

Afzelius said they would continue to hope that their franchise, which expired last January, will be renewed for another 25 years.

“The fight is not yet over,” he stressed.

Afzelius said they would come up with a better presentation to explain to lawmakers clearly and thoroughly their plans.

He lamented that they were not given the chance to clarify the issues hurled against them during the recent hearing.

PECO also questioned the immediate conduct of the hearing.

“Wala pa kami katapos pasa sang kinahanglan nga dokumento may hearing na dayon,” Afzelius said.

“Kag indi tanan nga members of the committee nakatambong sa hearing,” he added.

The hearing was attended by more than 20 members of the committee on legislative franchises chaired by Representative Franz Alvarez. The committee, based on the House of Representatives’ official website, has a total of 44 members.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel made the motion to deny the renewal of PECO’s franchise. It was unanimously approved by the committee.

“The records speak for itself. They (PECO) have remissed their duties and obligations to provide good services to the people of Iloilo (City),” Pimentel said.

MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), which is owned by billionaire Enrique Razon Jr., secured a 25-year power distribution franchise after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11212 last February.

The law provides for a transition period allowing PECO to operate temporarily until MORE Power is in full operation. The period will not exceed to two years from the grant of legislative franchise. IMT