Alyansa bets: Replace or revoke franchises of erring public utilities providers

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — Administration senatorial candidates under the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas on Wednesday suggested the revocation of franchise or the replacement of private companies who provide public utilities services.

Senatorial bet and ACT CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo wants franchises of such of such utilities providers revoked.

Tulfo made the remark when asked in a press conference here about the review of privatized public utilities, which has been a pressing issue in the province.

"Hindi tumutupad 'yong mga companies doon sa mga…ika nga dapat na alituntunin. Ang problema, irereklamo mo, naka-franchise 'yan ng 20, 25 years. Hindi lang sa tubig lalo na sa kuryente, kahit saksakan na ng pangit 'yong hinayupak na kompanya, kahit putik na 'yong, burak na 'yong lumalabas, 'yong kuryente naman wala nang ilaw… Walang magawa because doon sa franchise," Tulfo said.

(These companies do not comply with regulations. But when you lodge a complaint against them, the companies hold franchises for 20, 25 years. Not just for water, but especially for electricity. Even if the companies' service is woeful, even if muck comes out of the tap or the electricity can't even provide adequate lighting, nothing can be done because of the franchise they hold.)

"Siguro high time that Congress and Senate will review, kung hindi na kailangan 25, kung talagang hindi ka na makapag-deliver nang maayos na serbisyo, dapat ikansela na 'yong franchise," he added.

(Perhaps it's high time for Congress and the Senate to proactively review their performance even if the expiry of their 25-year franchise is still years away. If the service is still poor, then the franchise should be canceled.)

Meanwhile, former Senate president Vicente "Tito" Sotto III suggested to replace erring companies with other service providers.

"Siyempre dapat basic needs are always important. Hindi puwedeng may kawalan. So kung may privatized na tapos hindi nagde-deliver ng mabuti, palitan. Bakit magtitiis?" Sotto said.

(Of course, basic needs are always important. These should never be compromised. If there are privatized providers that fail to deliver their services, replace them. Why should anyone put up with their shortcomings?)

For his part, senatorial bet Panfilo "Ping" Lacson welcomed Malacañang's order to investigate PrimeWater, saying Congress could also conduct its own investigation.

"On the part of the Congress or Senate in particular, we can also conduct our own investigation or inquiry kung bakit nagkaganyan kasi utility basic need ng ating mga kababayan 'yong tubig at kung marami na ang nagrereklamo 'di lang isang lugar. Ibig sabihin hindi isolated 'yung case, 'yung isyu. So, we may also need to conduct our own inquiry if and when we get there," Lacson said.

(On the part of Congress or the Senate in particular, we can also conduct our own investigation or inquiry why a basic utility need of our countrymen is saddled with multiple complaints. Not just in one area. This means that this is just an isolated case.

Last week, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered an investigation into the operations of PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. due to numerous service-related complaints.

PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. is owned by the family of Alyansa senatorial candidate Camille Villar. She recently earned the endorsement of Vice President Sara Duterte, whose family has had frosty relations with the President over the past months.

The Villar camp has yet to respond on the matter.

Internet connectivity

Meanwhile, TRABAHO Party-list expressed support for President Marcos’ renewed commitment to provide internet connectivity across the country, including remote and underserved areas, to bridge the digital divide that continues to limit the potential of many Filipinos, especially those living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

“Reliable internet access is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. From online job applications to remote work and virtual training, connectivity is the lifeline of the modern workforce,” party-list spokesperson Atty. Mitchell-David Espiritu said in a statement.

“With stable internet, a resident in a far-flung barangay can now apply for a job in Metro Manila, attend TESDA or online university courses, or even work remotely for global clients,” he added.

He further said “[internet connectivity] opens doors that were once sealed by geography and lack of resources.”

In previous community dialogue in provinces of Quezon City and Cagayan, TRABAHO nominee Atty. Johanne Bautista advocated for internet infrastructure and upskilling legislative agenda to support the job creation efforts of chief executives in the said localities. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

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