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Solidarity To Oppose Privatization
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Welcome to STOP Privatization Page |
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Solidarity To Oppose Privatization |
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Workers
Oppose MEMBERS of the militant Confederation for Unity, Recognition & Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE), an organization of government workers unions nationwide, today picketed the Bicameral meeting on the Omnibus Power Bill at the Philippine Senate. The protesters are opposing the passage of the said bill not only because more than 10,000 employees of the National Power Corporation (Napocor) shall be displaced but also because of the almost PhP1 trillion debts of Napocor that will be passed on to the public in the form of stranded cost. Power rates will also increase once power generation, transmission and distribution is in the hands of private business. Ferdinand Gaite, COURAGE President cited the experience of the Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System (MWSS), which was privatized in 1997. From 5,000 employees, the workforce of the former MWSS was trimmed down to only about 2,000 regular workers, subjected to periodic evaluations and other tests and eventually replaced by contractuals. Napocor is said to be taking the same route via its restructuring plan, which is a prelude to its eventual privatization. "The government is ensuring that Napocor privatization is in the can before President Estrada’s departure to US on July 26. Otherwise, Estrada cannot expect any more loans from the US. It is of no surprise that Senate has passed Senate Bill 2000 faster than the payola-tainted House Bill No. 8457," Gaite said. He added that the debts incurred by Napocor on its onerous contracts with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) with its minimum take or pay agreements, will be shouldered by the consumers in the form of higher power rates and more taxes. Meanwhile, there is no guarantee that services will become more efficient. "The private business has no monopoly of efficient service. What’s more, with its profit-orientation, public interest and service is the least of its priority. Philippine Airlines (PAL) and MWSS are living examples." # |
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