What appears unrebutted during the confrontation between the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) top honchos and Winston Garcia of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), with some contributions from former National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) chief Romy Neri, is that billions of pesos have been collected by Meralco as electric-meter deposits. Also, that the public has not been informed as to where these funds have been deposited and what Meralco did with them.

I believe it is about time Meralco told the people where these trust funds are, and how much exactly they amount to, together with interests earned over the years. It is also interesting to know, if it is true, that in 2007 alone, some P561 million worth of electricity was consumed by Meralco offices and were subsequently charged to the unsuspecting customers as “system loss.”

By the way, after all these many years, this is the first time I received a notice of Meralco’s stockholders’ meeting and Meralco’s report on its operations. I also received a check for P0.40 as my dividend. Maraming salamat po, Meralco, for remembering me.

****

The tragic death of Rep. Crispin Beltran, “Ka Bel” to his friends in the militant movement, should, of course, be mourned, because whatever our differences in our approach to government, I have no doubt that Ka Bel was a Filipino who loved his country.

On the other hand, I believe that media should properly report the highlights of Representative Beltran’s life because what we read in the papers tend to be confusing. In the PDI, Mr. Beltran was reported to be living in a depressed area in barangay Commonwealth. In another paper, it says his house is in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. I am convinced Ka Bel was not a rich man, but I am wondering why his net worth is only P50,000 after being a congressman for three terms. Even just for his salary and allowances as member of the House, I am sure he could have lived comfortably. Unless, of course, it is true that as a party-list representative, so much of his income is being turned over to the Anakpawis organization, which, in turn, probably supports some other movements beyond Congress.

At any rate, I have not heard of any report of scandalous behavior or of any act of corruption against the late Representative Beltran. May he rest in peace.

****

The wisdom of the President’s policies often becomes apparent only after some time when one ponders on it or when controversies have cooled down for clearer minds to function. For instance, many critics commented sarcastically that the President’s seeming penchant for holding Cabinet meetings outside Malacañang reeks of propaganda or mere publicity stunt. Recently, however, some critics have softened their view on the subject after it became clear that these off-Malacañang meetings have brought focus on certain subjects and resulted in the speedy resolution of nagging problems heretofore unaddressed due to inattention. It has also brought into focus the natural beauties and bounties of certain places, most recently the hidden allure of the island of Bohol. I am 100-percent confident that after last Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting in paradise-like Panglao, businessmen and tourism promoters will have a new gem to sell that will eventually redound to the socioeconomic gains of the province and its people.

****

Solomonic. This is how a prominent daily usually at odds with the policies of the President described GMA’s decision on the Meralco-GSIS controversy that her critics wanted to pin down as administration-instigated and politically inspired. Indeed, the President proved—by a simple directive to the panel of economic experts to review the Meralco and GSIS positions on this sensitive subject, which concerns all the households in the Meralco franchise areas—that wisdom and fairness can resolve a nasty and complicated problem which will affect our lives for years to come. Allowing big power users to get their electricity directly from major power distributors is a move worth applauding. And this is only the beginning.

THE anxiety of foreign and local businessmen who view with concern what, to them, may be a potential case of state-driven cannibalization or takeover of the country’s largest and most profitable distribution utility, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), may find echoes in the case of the American Insurance Group (AIG), which, in 2005, was hounded with Rottweiler-like ferocity by Eliot Spitzer, its chairman and patriarch forced to resign just to spare the company from further pain.

Knowledge is key in a thriving economy—that’s why we are called Homo sapiens, thinking man. But in today’s borderless world, creativity and innovation—more than knowledge, per se—are the drivers in a knowledge-based economy.

Everybody hates the fact that prices are going higher. There is no question that price increases are outstripping income, at least in my household. Each day seems to bring new challenges to preserve purchasing power through substitution (DVDs instead of the cinema), conservation (it’s raining, you don’t need the air con on!) and elimination (try my new recipe for lechon bangus).

Alálaong bagá: Confidence in God

An anamnesis of divine goodness

In the manner of retrieval, the text from Deuteronomy tells the audience to call to mind God’s blessings bestowed upon their ancestors, to encourage them to trust that God would be no less generous with them. For the edification of the later generations Israel’s early days were idealized, and the desert period of hardships and grumblings, rebellions and deaths became a romantic symbol of first love and fidelity, focusing on God’s constant care for the people. 

About Town: Cebu’s power grid

Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) general manager Winston Garcia grabbed headlines recently by accusing the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) of lack of transparency, and saying the state-owned pension firm can very well take over the country’s largest power-distribution firm so that high power rates can be brought down. But as the Garcia-Meralco word war drags on, doubts are being raised as to whether the GSIS honcho is really after lower electricity rates.

Tax Law for Business: Reinvestigation’s effect on prescription of tax collection

Subject to certain exceptions, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has five years, following the assessment of taxes, within which to initiate the collection of taxes. But have you ever received a collection notice even after the expiration of this period? If your case is not one of the instances where the suspension of the prescriptive period applies, then you have all the right to contest the collection.

Reflections from the Mirror: A man who loved his country

What appears unrebutted during the confrontation between the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) top honchos and Winston Garcia of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), with some contributions from former National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) chief Romy Neri, is that billions of pesos have been collected by Meralco as electric-meter deposits.