DOE assures unhampered 0perations of businesses in Siargao Islands
Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar met on Friday, June 18, 2021 to discuss concerns of business owners and investors in General Luna, Siargao Islands, Surigao del Norte regarding their temporary electrical line.
METRO MANILA - Department of Energy Alfonso Cusi has expressed his support for local businesses in Siargao who are struggling to process their documentary prerequisites to operate, and will assist them in extending their temporary lighting permits.
Business
owners and investors in the town of General Luna, Surigao del Norte have sought
help from Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin
Andanar on the sidelines of the Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide
(AHON) Convergence Program launch in Siargao Island last week.
The
Siargao Island Business Organization (SIBO) met with Secretary Andanar on June
12, 2021 about their concerns on the red tape in processing of permits in setting
up their businesses there.
On
Friday, June 18, 2021, Secretary Andanar handed over the letter of appeal of
the SIBO to Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, outlining their
concern over the approaching termination date of their temporary lighting
permits. The group has appealed for extension on this.
Their
temporary lighting permits granted by the Siargao Electric Cooperative
(SIARELCO) are expiring on July 17, 2021 and yet their building permits are yet
to be issued despite complying with the LGU's documentary requirements. More
than 200 business owners and investors in General Luna are in a predicament
because of this. The issuance of a building permit is required to process
permanent electrical lines.
SIBO
also raised their concerns on the required high-priced minimum electrical rate
for those establishments who have bought their own transformers in order to
have permanent electrical lines. According to the letter, these businesses have
to pay their monthly bill “starting from P25,000 up to P80,0000 and more” even
if they have not consumed much electricity for that period. They are also
seeking clarifications for the correct process for applying for permanent
electrical lines.
During
the meeting Energy Secretary Cusi and Secretary Andanar responded positively to
their appeal, saying they will be coordinating with SIARELCO on the matter.
“Makakaasa
po kayo na sa tulong ng DOE, gagampanan po agad namin yan at sisiguraduhin po
namin na hindi na po kayo magkakaroon ng abala [We assure you that DOE will
help. We will immediately respond to this and make sure you won’t have any
problem regarding this],” Secretary Cusi said.
Secretary
Andanar assured business owners that the government is ready to aid them as
they recover from the pandemic.
“Itong mga establisyementong ito, kagaya din ng ibang negosyo, ay apektado din ng pandemya kung kaya hanggat kaya ay bigyan natin ng tulong. Paraan din para tulungan na makabangon ang ekonomiya [These establishments, like other businesses, are affected by the pandemic as well. That’s why as long as we can, we should help them. This is also a way of helping the economy recover],” he said.
