The Palawan Provincial Board will summon officials of the Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative (BISELCO) next week following complaints from residents and businesses over sharp increases in electricity bills in Coron and Busuanga.
During the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s regular session on June 9, Board Member Juan Anton Alvarez said consumers have reported electricity charges nearly tripling in recent months, prompting calls for a provincial-level inquiry.
“Apparently nag-triple ang kanilang billing… ‘yung stall doon sa airport sabi niya sa’kin yung kaniyang billing ng kuryente, yung normal daw ay P5,000, ang binayaran niya this month ay P18,000,” Alvarez said.
The board member said BISELCO had earlier appeared before the Sangguniang Bayan of Coron and attributed the higher rates to electricity consumption exceeding the threshold covered by subsidized power rates during the peak summer season.
“Napaliwanag ng BISELCO kaya tumaas yung kanilang mga bayarin, yung billing nila kasi sumobra sila doon sa allowed ng kanilang subsidized rate,” he said.
According to Alvarez, the cooperative assured consumers that electricity rates are expected to normalize this June as demand declines. However, he said the provincial government wants a more detailed explanation and long-term solutions to prevent a repeat of the situation.
“Kaya gusto ko silang ipatawag at humingi ng update dito po sa ating lebel para malaman natin kung ano ho ba yung nangyari at the same time kung totoo ba na by June babalik na dating presyo ang kanilang kuryente,” he said.
The Provincial Board also intends to explore ways to help address the issue and prevent similar spikes in the future, particularly in the tourism-driven municipalities of Coron and Busuanga.
Alvarez added that better planning and forecasting of electricity demand, including the timely procurement of additional power supply agreements, could have helped avoid the sudden increase in rates.
“Pwede naman kasi maiwasan sana ito kung napagplanuhan nang mabuti yung kanilang suplay, yung kanilang pag-aaply ng mga additional power supply agreement,” he said.
