Electrification of relocation sites lies on PPC
Residents occupying the city's relocation sites in Barangay So-oc, Mandurriao and Barangay Lanit, Jaro will soon have electricity after the Panay Power Corporation (PPC), now owned by Mirant Global, made its commitment to pay P8.9 million dues under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).
Mayor Jerry Treñas said he was informed by PPC management that they will pay P8.9 million out of the P16 million unpaid dues they have with the Department of Energy (DoE) in two weeks time.
In the Epira Law, PPC is mandated to pay P1 for every kilowatt they sell to Panay Electric Company (Peco). The amount reached to millions of pesos after PPC failed to allocate portions of their gains for such payment. PPC is the power producer while Peco is the power provider.
Treñas said they have already prepared the electrification plans for So-oc and Lanit. The plan was already presented to Peco. As soon as the payment is made, the project will start, said Treñas.
Hundreds of relocatees in So-oc and Lanit have been complaining of their misery for quite a long time. It's more than a decade that they were relocated in the area with no basic amenities such as electricity, water and roads.
In Lanit, residents are also complaining of lack of road right of way while those relocatees in So-oc also complained of the non-availability of safe drinking water in the area.
However, the mayor said all the problems affecting the residents will soon be resolved. He said they are on the process of signing a memorandum of agreement with the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) for a P2 million water facility project.
In the MOA, the MIWD will first spend for the installation of water facility. As soon as the project is completed that is the time the city government will pay the water district.
For the Lanit residents, the negotiation for a "lot barter" is on-going. One of the heirs of the property near the Lanit relocation wants the property to swap it with a city lot, said Treñas.