ILONGGO consumer advocacy group Koalisyon Bantay Kuryente (KBK) denounced the latest tactic of MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) in organizing a new group using the same name with the clear intent of deceiving and silencing consumers.
In a virtual presscon held last Saturday, September 12, KBK coordinator Allen Aquino shared that MORE Power’s “fake KBK” has been using their platform to issue misleading public statements through their president Halley Alcarde.
In a side by side presentation, Aquino showed that the true KBK Facebook page was created as early as June 24 and has grown to 138 members. It also showed posts and videos of the group’s different engagements with consumers. MORE Power’s KBK, on the other hand, only created a FB page last August 28, 2020 with only 31 members, to date.
“Ang MORE’s fake KBK, yung intention talaga is to silence us, para mawawala yung reklamo kay MORE, so yun lang talaga ang pure intention nila,” said Aquino. “Hindi nila pwede ipatahimik ang consumers ng Iloilo, nakaumpisa tayo noon pa, hanggang ngayon, hanggang sa future.”
Aquino believes that MORE Power’s KBK was formed and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after the original KBK had raised concerns about MORE Power’s overbilling for systems loss, long and frequent power outages, and lack of public consultation.
The KBK alleged that MORE Power is actively silencing consumers to cover up the excessive systems loss charges that breaches the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) mandated cap of 6.25%. This practice has incurred P20.9 million in above the cap consumer charges.
Aquino presented photos and news clippings that show the close affiliation between MORE Power officials and the president of the MORE Power KBK.
“There are lots of evidence to prove that this MORE Power KBK is made up of people who are obviously pro-MORE Power and not representative of the consumers,” Aquino said.
In contrast, Aquino shared what the real KBK has been doing to protect the interests and welfare of the Iloilo electricity consumers.
“Pumupunta kami sa bawat barangay at kinakausap namin ang mga tao,” he said. “Pinapakinggan namin ang kanilang mga complaints at pino-formalize ito. Ang ginagawa lang ng MORE’s false KBK ay propaganda. Hindi nila sinasabi ang totoo, pinagtatakpan pa nila ang reklamo ng mga customer,” Aquino said.
The leadership of the KBK will be filing formal complaints with the SEC as private citizens to safeguard consumer welfare.
“We have the track record and the documentation and can get testimonials from consumers, and any legitimate organization who will mediate in this dispute about the KBK, “said Aquino.
“We will continue as the true KBK to protect the interests and welfare of the Iloilo city electric consumers,” he emphasized.
