I just read this story featured on the Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091015-230132/Meralco-ordered-to-refund-customers-P278M-in-1-year).

In the article, Department of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes orders Meralco to pay its subscribers a total of P278 million due to the power producer’s over-recoveries (“under-recoveries happens” happen when Meralco charges less than what it should; “over-recoveries” happen when Meralco charges more than what it should). Now, now, I know the “million” after the peso sign makes it seem a huge deal, but, when you break it down, the refund amounts only to 1.07 centavos per kilowatt hour that will be paid to subscribers in a period of a year. Which means, that would land 100KwH-households P1.07 and 200KwH-households P2.14 every month.

I admit that I am no legal expert, I just ate and this opinion will be completely arbitrary, but, what do you say that we find a way—a loophole, a hoodwink, a scheme, a ploy—to channel this huge amount to helping the victims of Ondoy and Pepeng instead of us subscribers waiting for that P1.07- or P2.14- refund every month? What do you say we find a way to talk the millions of Meralco subscribers into waving their rights to this SMS-size refund and giving it to those who need it the most NOW?

I know, I know, there are legal impediments to this. And I know, I know, this isn’t as easy as I make it sound. I know, I know, there are papers to sign, waivers to collect, red tapes to go through and bureaucracy to face. Well, first thing is first, we gotta make Meralco cough up the dough; and, of course, then ask the millions of subscribers to let go of their impending miniscule monthly refunds.

I know, I know, I just ate and this is completely arbitrary. But nobody said making a difference is easy. … But, jeez, that 278 million pesos seems to be a lot of money that we could throw onto help’s way. What do you say?

 

October 18th, 2009 by A Les Lupisan A Les Lupisan is a creative writer + director. He is an alumnus of the Advocate + a graduate of AB Mass Communication, batch 2002. He is an artist, a musician, a writer, but aren't we all?