Press Release
May 7, 2008

KIKO URGES MALACAÑANG TO RETHINK KNEE-JERK RESPONSE TO LOWER POWER RATES

Government takeover of businesses imbued with public interest such as Meralco may just be a knee-jerk response to current concerns but will not squarely deal with the problems, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today said.

"Our experience with government taking over key businesses directly affecting our lives, such as power, water has proved to be unfavorable. Stories abound as to how numerous GOCC's have been run to the ground and while its officers have abused their posts for personal gain. This is a sad reality when government attempts to go into endeavors best left to the private sector. It is also contrary to the policy of privatization of the power industry. Ang problema rito ay kung mapagkakatiwalaan ba natin ang gobyernong mahusay na makapagpatakbo ng mga kumpanyang ito," Kiko said.

"Kung NAPOCOR ang pag-uusapan, ilang ulit na itong nalugi at sa pagkalugi, taumbayan ang nagbabyad ng mga utang nito sa pamamagitan ng mataas na kuryente. Baka mauwi pa ang takeover sa mas mataas na singil sa kuryente."

"History has it that whenever the government takes over public interest companies, either the prices go up, or the companies close down, or both. Yes, the first reaction would be government takeover, for private industries, and privatization for government corporations. But are these the real long-term solutions?" Kiko furthered.

Kiko emphasized that in approaching public issues, authorities must start thinking out of the box.

"Ang tawag ko rito, 'masabi lang.' Masabi lang na may nagawa, masabi lang na hindi nagpabaya. Pero nasagot ba ang tanong, at nasolusyonan ang problema?" Kiko quipped.

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