THE local government of Misamis Occidental will double its commitment to the government’s anti-insurgency initiatives to bolster peace and order in the province and its neighbors, according to Gov. Henry S. Oaminal Sr.
The governor announced the renewed efforts two months after the province was declared insurgency-free by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP. The declaration was the result of programs that facilitated the peaceful surrender of rebels through offers of cash gifts and livelihood assistance.
“We remain grateful for the AFP’s recognition of our initiatives and for validating its success. Our objective now is to secure peace and order in our province, and see its positive effects reach our neighbors in the region,” said Oaminal.
According to Army Maj. Gen. Gabriel C. Viray, commander of the 1st Infantry (TABAK) Division, the final rebel group operating in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Misamis Occidental was dismantled in December 2023.
Viray, during the declaration of Misamis Occidental’s insurgency-free status, acknowledged the role that the provincial government of Misamis Occidental played.
“I want you to know the significant effort that was made under Governor Oaminal’s leadership in dismantling Guerilla Front Sendong,” said Viray.
“Thanks to his guidance and support to our units, especially the 10th Infantry Battalion, the 102nd Brigade, and the 1st Infantry TABAK Division, the province allocated funds as a reward for those who facilitated the surrender or neutralization of these rebels,” he also said.
“Misamis Occidental itself had its own history of being a hotbed of rebels. This is a fact that I acknowledged early on in my career in public service, and one of the deep-seated problems I vowed to resolve while I have the opportunity to,” Oaminal said.
“Now we are willing to collaborate and share best practices with other LGUs. Let us work in unity for an insurgency-free Northern Mindanao,” he said.
Meralco franchise renewal chance for scrutiny: Gatchalian
SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian, vice chairman of the Senate committee on energy, said the submission to the Senate of the bill renewing the franchise of Meralco will provide the opportunity to scrutinize the giant utility’s performance.
“These franchise renewals, my view always is that we have to use this opportunity to review the performance of the grantee. And that’s a good way of putting accountability to the grantee,” Gatchalian said on the sidelines of the forum “Solar and Storage Philippines 2024 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
“So, I will look at the performance of Meralco,” he said. “The price, for example, since they buy power, and the service which includes connection, brownouts, speed of repairing lines, etc.”
“For me, I have to look at the performance of Meralco before I can say whether to support it or not,” he added.
House Bill (HB) No. 9813 seeks to extend Meralco’s existing franchise set to expire in 2028.
“Typically, the franchise emanates from the House,” Gatchalian said. “So, we cannot move until they transmit the franchise to the Senate. That’s how the process works.”
Consumer groups are opposing the rush to renew the Meralco franchise.
United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) said the bid to renew the Meralco franchise four years ahead of its expiry is ill-timed because it is happening just when Meralco customers are feeling the weight of increasing electricity rates as a result of increased demand.
UFCC president Rodolfo Javellana Jr. said the ongoing push by a few lawmakers to renew the Meralco franchise ahead of time was clearly being done with haste and appeared to be setting the tone in Meralco’s favor.
“If we give Meralco an early franchise renewal, we are giving them a free pass on all the allegations against them,” said another group advocating consumer protection, the People for Power (P4P) coalition.
“The fact that Meralco is pushing for an early renewal shows that they want to escape any responsibility for any findings that the House of Representatives or any government body might find in an investigation into their practices,” said P4P convenor Gerry Arances.
