Decorp customers, the ultimate victims

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

There is definitely more to the brouhaha over the insistence of the Lim government to compel Dagupan Electric Corporation to pay real property tax for the hundreds of electric poles erected around the city.

The real issue here is not really about whether the electric poles can be considered real estate but rather whether the consumers can still afford to pay more once the Decorp is compelled to pay the RPT for these poles. What is a given is that companies easily pass on costs of doing business to consumers, including taxes on real properties. 

So while City Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued exudes confidence over the legal position of the government, and Decorp’s battery of well-anointed lawyers, on the other hand, think they can easily scoff at the city government’s reckless legal moves, no one is out there to defend and speak for the consumers.

Who will take the cudgels for the consumers not only in Dagupan but in Mangaldan, San Fabian, Calasiao, San Jacinto, Manaoag, Sta. Barbara and part of San Carlos City? Help!

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BANKRUPTCY IS THE ISSUE. It is even frightening that the Dagupan City councilors can only think of ill-motive on either side for the claims and counterclaims filed with the court by both parties. Was the city out to negotiate from position of strength over its inability to pay its electric bills on time? Or was Decorp simply out to play hardball with the city hall that habitually delays its payments? They ask.

Gee, if they can’t see that the reason the city government is desperate to collect from Decorp is because the city is nearing bankruptcy, then you can reasonably conclude that the city is truly hopeless.  

But one can’t really blame the councilors for seeing, hearing and speaking nothing of substance on the issue. They were part of the cabal that systematically looted the city’s coffer. They have willingly endorsed any and all proposals to fund fool-proof graft-ridden projects of the Lim administration. 

In fact, with the exception of Councilor Michael  Fernandez who in the past was adamant in calling the state of the city’s finances being in deficit-mode, not a single councilor dared to stand up to support this fact.

I guess when the s_ _t hits the fan, and everyone else stinks, what, indeed, could be there to complain about!

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SUE THE COFFER RAIDERS. So while the legal eagles of both sides regale the public with their arguments over those damn electric poles, these arguments can only spell life or death for some of us,  more or less food on the table for many, fluorescent lighting or candle light for students studying at night, more activities or  osses for the business, etc.

If Atty. Baniqued loves winning meaningful legal battles, may I suggest she picks on more dangerous predators, not hapless consumers.

Why not sue City Councilor Nic Aquino for refusing to account for the millions he received from the city government both the city fiesta in 2004 and the 2006 Bangus Festival?

Or why not sue Mayor Benjie Lim for overpricing not only the construction of the Malimgas market, but the installation of the street lights, the purchase of land in Brgy Awai in San Jacinto, and the dredging machine?

Why not sue the councilors for providing the funds for it?

Just to sue and get a conviction against Mr. Aquino alone will definitely enrich jurisprudence for good governance. But a positive court ruling against Decorp will only help lawyers and law students understand why an electric pole can look like a piece of land, and should, therefore be taxed!     

So, how about it, Ms. City Legal Officer? It’s time to protect the interests of the people, not the city officials who screw the people.

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THE CITY’S OUTSIDERS. Here’s another piece of advice for Ms. Baniqued.

Don’t listen to city Administrator Raffy Baraan, City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara and Executive Assistant to the Mayor Emmy Bamba telling you to go after Decorp with hammer and tongs.

Mr. Baraan now lives in Lingayen. Ms. Alcantara commutes to Dasol, and Mr. Bamba to Bulacan.

Unlike you, who live in San Fabian, they don’t have to worry about paying Decorp more for the taxes on the electric poles.

(Note: Mayor Lim also stays in China, India and Japan half of the time so best not to take his word for it, too).  

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ON GETTING EVEN. And here’s my suggestion, nay, my appeal to Decorp.

Just in case the court agrees with the city government that an electric pole, indeed, looks feels and smells like a real estate, don’t be quick about passing the cost of the taxes to consumers. There’s a better way to get even.

Since your poles will be considered real estate, you will be entitled to charge the city government and all city officials any rate you want for stringing their self-serving streamers on your poles.

Charge all business establishments that post billboards on your poles.

Pass on the costs of the RPT selectively. Charge the city officials, from the mayor to the councilors. Cut off their service promptly at the first sign of belligerence. But offer free use of the poles only if they decide to hang themselves.

Shoot anyone who pees on your poles especially in broad daylight.  But spare the dogs because like our city officials, they never had a chance to know any better.  

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WHERE’S THE DREDGING MACHINE?  While UPang’s Boy Rayos rants and rages over the  flooding of  his residence in Dior Village in Dagupan City even without rains pouring on his roof, the residents of San Carlos, formerly the site of endless deluge, in contrast are now want to dance in the street even during rainy days. Yes, no more flooding in that city unless the rest of Pangasinan is already underwater.

The San Carlenians simply stopped complaining and did what they had not done over the decades – to continuously dredge the channels where the rivers flow.

They have City Mayor Jolly Resuello to thank for. He purchased the equipment and promised to make that investment work. In less than a year, flooding in the city began to recede faster.

In contrast, City Mayor Benjie Lim insisted on buying an expensive brand new dredging machine two years ago despite an offer from DPWH to assign two dredgers to the city. Naturally, the onor-onors in the city council cheered for it meant they would partake of another kickback.  

Well it’s been two years, and flooding in the city gets worse by the month not on account of continuous rains but simply on a high tide! And where’s the vaunted brand new machine? It’s been floating listlessly on Pantal river with nary a difference on the lives of Dagupeños. My city hall mole says there’s no fuel to operate it continuously.

No wonder, the city hall desperately wants Decorp’s electric poles to look like a real estate. Naupot lay pondo ya nakurakot!

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