ECs urged to deliver quality, reliable service to consumers

THE Department of Energy (DOE) issued a reminder to all 121 electric cooperatives (ECs) to perform their duties and responsibilities and assure that the needs and expectations of consumers are met.

During the 54th founding anniversary of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), Energy secretary Raphael Lotilla told ECs to be responsive and responsible to their customers “because at some point, if our people get tired of the quality of services that they receive, then they themselves will be the ones to clamor for change.”

“NEA can only do so much. Our first line of defense is at the level of the electric cooperatives...Instead of being the followers in case of changes and reforms, my challenge to the electric co-operatives under the leadership of NEA, is to be at the forefront of change and reform,” said Lotilla.

NEA supervises all ECs in the country.

Lotilla commended the hard work of NEA and all ECs during a difficult year in the power sector when consumers were greeted with weekly fuel price increases brought about by the Ukraine crisis.

“ WE faced a major challenge to keep the lights on. One year later, I can say thanks for the cooperation of all, including you, the electric co-operatives. We have survived the most difficult year,” the Energy chief said.

He added: “The previous year has revealed a number of weaknesses and not just strengths. One of the things that I have indicated to you is our ability to respond to the needs for repair and rehabilitation, especially during national disasters.”

“And since extreme events will continue to come more often, and in fact in the greater intensity as climate change also happens, our preparation for these should even be greater,” Lotilla said. He said underperforming ECs must improve, while those that are performing well were reminded to continue to be a role model to ECs that are lagging behind.

“As I have said, we will give you full support to the extent that you are able to deliver. But there are also other electric cooperatives that need to consider other forms of delivery service to our people,” said Lotilla. Lenie Lectura

The visit of the US-Asean Business Council comes a day after the courtesy call of US Senator Tammy Duckworth with the President, where they talked about the country’s possible partnership with Washington on electric vehicle batteries and healthcare.

Marcos noted he is open to having more partnerships, which will help maintain the momentum of the country’s improving bilateral relations with the US.

“P resident Biden and I have identified concrete steps to ensure that our alliance and partnership remain relevant, responsive to the current emerging challenges in the defense, security and economic spheres,” the President said in his meeting with the US-Asean Business Council members.

Established in 1984, the US-Asean Business Council is an advocacy organization with 170 member-companies.

T he said companies operate in Asean member-states and generate almost $7 trillion in revenue and employ more than 14.5 million people.

Denr Eyeing Multipurpose Water Supply Infrastructure

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will work closely with various national government agencies (NGA) to look into the possibility of building public water supply facilities for multiple usage that will include irrigation, power generation, industrial and commercial use as well as domestic consumption, DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said on Wednesday.

The DENR, which is mandated to manage the country’s natural wealth, was also tasked to head the Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) created by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. by virtue of Executive Order No. 22.

Aside from the WRMO, other water-related agencies like the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), River Basin Control Office (RCBO) are under the DENR.

“We are looking at our respective budgets and our programs to see how we can design multipurpose infrastructure to actually serve the different needs of agriculture, power, water for domestic use, and for industry,” YuloLoyzaga said in a news statement.

The plan, according to the country’s steward of the environment and natural resources, is part of the move to refocus the government’s water security strategy to optimize and maximize utilization of the country’s water resources through infrastructure that enables “multitasked” usage of the national resource.

This even as the government is also looking to tap water from other sources and to promote wastewater recycling on account of the need for stable and steady water supply increases on the back of growing demand and threats from the El Niño weather condition.

Yulo-Loyzaga said the DENR and DPWH are jointly studying the construction of more water collection and impounding systems as well as flood control structures as mitigation measures in face of climate change and its impacts.

Yulo-Loyzaga added that water conservation and efficiency, along with multipurpose water infrastructure such as dams, reservoirs, sewage treatment plants, associated irrigation canals, and water supply networks may be used for more than one purpose for economic, social and environmental activities will address the different dimensions of water security in the country.

The DENR is also working with the Department of Finance to see how the government can incentivize public-private partnerships for bulk water supply and other projects that can deliver water where it is most needed.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has expressed interest in funding multipurpose infrastructure to address sectors that are critically in danger because of climate change. Jonathan L. Mayuga

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Supreme Court (SC) has junked the plea of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s justice secretary Hernando Perez and a businessman to set aside the resolutions issued by the Sandiganbayan denying their motion to dismiss the forfeiture cases filed following accusation that they allegedly extorted $2 million from the late former Manila 6th District Rep. Mark Jimenez.

I n a 52-page ruling penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the High Court’s Second Division dismissed Perez and Ernesto Escaler’s plea for “lack of merit,” holding that the anti-graft court did not commit grave abuse of discretion in issuing its April 18, 2016 and January 17, 2017 resolutions.

The anti-graft court, in the said resolutions, denied Perez and Escaler’s petition to dismiss the forfeiture cases despite the dismissal of the extortion and robbery cases against them due to inordinate delay, which was upheld by the SC in its 2014 ruling.

Although the criminal cases in People v. Sandiganbayan and the forfeiture proceeding involve similar parties, it bears stressing that their causes of action and respective issues are different. Forfeiture proceedings are civil in nature. While the forfeiture proceeding here emanated from the same set of facts as the criminal cases in People v. Sandiganbayan, it is nevertheless separate and distinct,” the SC explained.

The Court further explained that the causes of action in the criminal cases are premised on their’ supposed violations of Section 3(b) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and commission of robbery under the Revised Penal Code.

O n the other hand, the cause of action in the forfeiture proceeding emanated from Perez’s supposedly unlawfully acquired properties that are disproportionate to his salary and legitimate income during his incumbency.

“Contrary to petitioners’ assertions, the civil liability therefrom does not arise from the commission of the criminal charges but emanates from the provisions of Republic Act No. 1379, a law which protects the right of the State to recover properties illicitly acquired,” the SC added.

A s to Escaler, the SC explained that the anti-graft court also did not gravely abuse its discretion in not dismissing the forfeiture case since the Office of the Ombudsman has the authority to file the petition for forfeiture and had conducted a previous inquiry similar to a preliminary investigation in criminal proceedings before commencing the action w ith the Sandiganbayan.

“As Republic Act No. 1379 covers situations where properties unlawfully acquired by a public officer are concealed or transferred under the name of another, Escaler’s insistence that he is not covered as he is not a public officer fails,” the SC said.

“Moreover, since the complaint specifically alleges his participation in the bank transactions involving the money presumed to be unlawfully acquired by Perez during his incumbency as a public officer, respondent did not err in impleading his name in the petition for forfeiture,” it added.

The forfeiture cases stemmed from Perez and Escaler’s alleged unlawful acquisition of properties when they extorted the amount from Jimenez in exchange for not pressuring him to execute affidavits against personalities involved in the plunder case of former President Joseph Estrada and to ensure his coverage in the Department of Justice-administered Witness Protection Program.

Perez served as justice secretary from July 1, 2001 until his resignation on January 1, 2003 due to the controversy.

Escaler got involved in the mess as he allegedly gave the instructions on how the money extorted from Jimenez would be moved through a series of bank transfers.