Baciwa seeks 30%
water rate increase
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

An increase of 30 percent in water rates for residential consumers in order to sustain its operations is being proposed by the Bacolod City Water District.

BACIWA general manager Juliana Carbon yesterday said they are allowed an increase of 60 percent, but have settled for only 30 percent. She said they have proposed a rate increase for eight years but the Local Water Utilities Administration usually approves only three years.

Their proposal will go through the process required by law and by the LWUA, Carbon said. One requirement is the conduct of a public hearing which they have scheduled on June 9 from 3-5 p.m. at the Negros Occidental Multi Purpose Gym, she said.

Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco yesterday again called on the public to oppose the power rate increase sought by the National Power Corp.

The governor issued the call following the revelation of Enrique Tabino, Central Negros Electric Cooperative manager, that while the Energy Regulatory Commission granted the National Power Corp. a provisional generation rate increase of .8376 centavos per kilowatt hour for the Visayas grid, consumers are actually paying a 96-centavo hike.

That is because systems loss and Expanded Value Added Tax fees have been added on, which are not CENECO charges, Tabino said.

MassKara 2009 will be launched at the Manokan Country 7 tonight, on the second day of the 1st Inasal Festival of Bacolod.

Ferrero Street, in front of Manokan Country, will be transformed into an Electric MassKara strip, and a short sneak preview of what is in store for October at Lacson Street will be shown, festival director Eli Tajanlangit said.

MasssKara performers will include electric skateboarders, gymnasts, breakdancers and airdancers, Tajanlangit added.