MANILA, Philippines – Consumer groups on Monday, January 20, brought their #StrikeTheHike campaign outside the Sampaloc branch of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to protest its “blackmailing tactic.”
This was after the power distributor said there would be rotating brownouts in areas it is servicing should the Supreme Court not lift the 60-day temporary restraining order on its P4.15/kwh increase in electricity rates. Meralco said that without the increase, it would not be able to pay generation and transmission charges.
“The excuse is a clear blackmail against the consumers. How can Meralco lose when it claimed to have earned a profit of P17 billion in 2013?” says Jinky Panganiban, the group spokesperson.
The groups also assailed the Aquino government for its failure to stand for the interests of the consumers. “If the government is really sincere in lessening the price of electricity, it is high time for the state to take full control of the power industry and nationalize it in order for us to enjoy low electricity rates,” the groups said in a statement.
Protesters were planning to hold a lights-off protest, dubbed as “Black-Out vs Meralco Blackmail,” Monday evening. The series of protests is in line with the oral arguments on the power rate hike at the Supreme Court scheduled for Tuesday, January 21. – Rappler.com
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