By Romy Teruel
Columnist
Bohol Sunday Post
The Bohol Light Company Inc. (BLCI) is seeking the recovery of its franchise tax by passing it on to its consumers. BLCI thinks it can do this under the Energy Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) passed by Congress years back.
At a time when people are suffering from the effects of high prices brought by forces that are not within the control of government, the BLCI move is not only bad timing but also smacks of insensitivity to the needs of its clientele and is not good business practice.
It was good that the Energy Regulatory Commission postponed the public hearing it conducted this week pending a resolution of a prejudicial question. Both the Provincial government of Bohol and the city government of Tagbilaran submitted their opposition along with the opposition of a horde of electric consumers who would be affected by what BLCI wants to happen.
Even if BLCI is entitled to recover its franchise tax under the law, the move is just unconscionable during these difficult times. The incomes of low income group that consist of most of the electric consumers are eaten up by the increasing cost of prime commodities and services like food and education.
Passing on to the consumers the burden of recovering a franchise tax payment is not only bad business practice but downright immoral. Where is the corporate social responsibility of BLCI? Why emaciate the consumers who give you the business and the profit? When things get better, no consumer will complain against helping out the business to recover some expenses especially if the service is excellent.
The Boholanos are warm and gracious. They have never been known to fail those who are kind to them. In time they will reciprocate the kind consideration of BLCI.
Let's hope BLCI withdraws its application without waiting for the solution to the prejudicial question of whether indeed their franchise tax is one that can be recovered under the EPIRA.
It may be a timely reminder to BLCI that the company is not pure private company. The provincial government of Bohol owns 30% of its original worth. Even if that 30% is just a voice in the wilderness it is still a voice that represents the city consumers who are the constituency of the provincial government, the City of Tagbilaran being a component city of the province.
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