meralco

Presidential
spokesman
Ignacio Bunye
says national
development
suffers
because of
high cost of
electricity.

n a t i o n a l

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Officials rule out takeover of controversial power utility

MANILA

Malacanang reiterated that the government supports lowering power rates to
make the country competitive in terms of productivity.

Press Secretary and presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye, said the stance
“isn’t about Meralco. It is about responsible practices in an industry that is
critical to our economic development.”

“The President has made it very clear that our economy won’t be truly
competitive until we bring down the cost of electricity,” Bunye said. In order to
do that, he said the government has to take “a hard and serious look at all
parts of the electricity generating and distribution chain.”

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita earlier said Malacanang has no intention
of taking over Meralco.

“The government has always the capability to run such a public utility. It’s just
like taking over the operation of an international airport,” Ermita said.

“We always will be in a position to take over. Capability-wise, yes, we have, but
there is no intention [or] nothing leading to it anyway.”

Ermita acknowledged that the government is trying to “influence the situation”
and get the power firm to open its books to public scrutiny as part of efforts to
bring down electricity charges.

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