MSK clarifies
by Elinando B. Cinco as appeared on Manila Bulletin, Sept. 1, 2014
Link to original: http://www.mb.com.ph/msk-clarifies/
(This is a rejoinder sent by Matuwid na Singil sa Kuryente Consumer Alliance, Inc. (MSK) in reaction to my piece – The need for legitimate NGOs – last April 15, 2014.)
MSK is duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-profit organization and has made annual reportorial requirements since its organization in 2011. “For financial reporting purposes we have been declaring that the organization is “non-operational” because we have not been soliciting and receiving donations from private donors. Most of our research and work have been donated time of volunteers who also pay for their own expenses,” David Celestra Tan said.
Tan, an early practitioner in the power industry, is co-convenor of MSK. He said his consumer group has deep knowledge in power deregulation and is pushing for reforms to reduce power costs in the Meralco area that everyone is complaining about. Its members are legitimate Meralco consumers who have rights to voice out their concerns on power costs and propose solutions. “We are not seeking to do work on behalf of the government,” Tan said.
Tan said he is aware that there is a need to obtain “done certification” from the Philippine Center for NGO Certification (PCNC). He, however, said the group will do so when they see the need to receive donations from local and foreign cause oriented sources.
He said MSK does not see itself seeking government funding because this is not the organization’s agenda, and MSK does not wish to compromise its objectivity in pushing for reforms that will involve government action. Neither does it have any aspiration to become a party-list group.
MSK is proud of its contribution in 2011 when it acted as Intervenor in ERC Case No. 2011-108RC (in the Matter of the Application for Approval of the Batangas-Mindoro Interconnection Project (BMIP). This involves a deeper review by the ERC of a P11.9 billion transmission line project that would have cost Luzon consumers P0.025 to P0.04 per kwh. Instead of an easy approval, the Energy Regulatory Commission is now still evaluating the cost-benefit of this added burden to the Luzon Consumers.
Tan revealed the purity of the advocacy of MSK for the electricity consumers would be evident from the group’s proposed changes in the rules and their implementation. According to Tan, at the DOE Multi Sectoral Task Force To Find Ways to Reduce Electricity Prices, MSK has so far been the only consumer group that has submitted concrete and precise proposals for power cost reduction. “We have reached out to the other consumer groups and offered to educate them on the workings of the power sector so that their groups can make informed decision on their own position papers.”
Tan said there are groups with vested interests that would be affected by the pro-consumer reforms MSK is pushing for at the DOE Task Force and running a campaign to stigmatize MSK and get the DOE to remove MSK’s participation in the national debate for ways to reduce power costs.
Tan said his group, composed of a lawyer, a seasoned advocacy campaigner, and legitimate Meralco consumers– only wants reforms in rules and industry practices so that the electricity consumers will be charged only fair and reasonable rates and will be pursuing its power cost reduction advocacies through various legal avenues available to it.
“We will be true to our name Matuwid na Singil sa Kuryente,” Tan affirmed.
