Senator Rafael Tulfo strongly suggested to his Senate colleagues Monday, Aug. 8 that they check the technical capabilities of electric companies before giving them franchises.

Tulfo revealed this to Senate reporters after conducting an organizational meeting of his Senate Energy Committee.

He said the power interruptions being experienced on Mindoro island last for 10 to 12 hours, and this tends to cause consumers' appliances to bog down.

Despite this, the electric companies still have the gall to collect high power rates and even threaten to cut off power if consumers do not pay their bills on time, he said.

Asked which agency should oversee the performance of electric companies, Tulfo replied that it is supposed to be the National Electrification Administration (NEA) ‘’but I don’t know kung nagpapabaya (if there is negligence). They are not doing enough)."

‘’Laging may problemang power interruption 10 to 12 hours, nasisira appliances, mga estudyante di makapag aral sa gabi, gamit kandilaat ilaw sa cellphone (Power interruptions last for 10 to 12 hours, appliances get broken, students cannot study at nights, they use cellphone lights),’’ he said.

‘’Adding insult to injury napagalaman ko na meron pang gana at kapal ng mukha itong mga taaa- OMECO na magpadagdag ng sweldo bonus, di naman nakakapagbigay ng serbisyo (Adding insult to injury, I learned that those at OMECO have the gall to increase their bonuses). Bonus dumoble ng 200 percent (Their bonuses doubled to 200 percent). Lung ako taga-OMECO at bibigyan ng sweldo ay mahihiya ako (If I were with OMECO and I would be given a salary, I will be ashamed),’’ he added.

‘’Isa sa opisyal ng OMECO bulok na raw transformer, kable, kapag nagbogged down nagkakaroon ng effect (One OMECO official said their transfomers need immediate replacement). ...Sabi ng OMECO, kulang daw ang natatanggap nilang subsidy (OMECO claimed their subsidy is not enough) Di raw sapat ang sinisingil kulang daw (They claim their power rates are not enough). May proposal ang electric companies magkaroon ng two percent increase at mukhang maaprubahan, suggestion maningil ng P3 pa, isasubsidize pangangailangan pero ikakarga sa customer (There is a proposal from electric companies to have a two percent increase and this looks like it would be approved, the suggestion is to charge an additional P3. They want to be subsidized but customers would shoulder them),’’ he said.

Tulfo said the Congress has the power to grant franchises but he could not dictate on his colleagues and all he could do is to talk to them.

‘’It is not up to Congress to decide kung ano next step kasi nagaaprub lang ng prangkisa (Congress only approves franchises). Sa nag-evaluate kung qualified o hindi (That is up to ERC or DOE to evaluate who is qualified or not),’’ he added.