FORMER Sual Mayor John Rodney Arcinue defended the proliferation of fish cages and assured that these are in accordance with their municipal fishery ordinance, and not a threat to the operations of the coal-fired Sual Plant.

In a press conference last October 2, Arcinue said the complaint filed by Team Energy is merely a diversionary tactic by the company, which is facing tax evasion charges filed by the local government.

“They are diverting the people from the real problem as the municipality of Sual is demanding proper payment from them,” he said.

Arcinue, son of incumbent Mayor Roberto ‘Bing’ Arcinue, said Team Energy “should refrain from creating panic”, asserting that the fish cages have not affected and do not pose any threats to the operations of the 1,200 megawatt (MW) power plant.

Sual’s incumbent mayor will meet with Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Nestor Domenden on October 10 to discuss the issue.

John conceded that some fish cages could be too close to the plant but explained that these were possibly moved by strong currents.

The Arcinues stressed that the fish cage industry helps at least 1,000 families and has created at least 3,000 indirect jobs.

TAXES

Meanwhile, Team Energy defended that the tax evasion complaint of the local government unit (LGU) of Sual is based on wrong assumptions by comparing it with the tax payments made by the company to the LGU of Mauban in Quezon where it operates a 460 MW plant.

In a statement, Froilan Gregory Romualdez III, senior manager for external affairs of TeaM Energy explained, “Local business tax payments are not based on the megawatt capacity of a plant. These are based on a percentage of a company’s gross receipts.”

Arcinue pointed to records from their municipal treasurer that show TeaM Energy paid this year more than P95 million to Mauban and only P34-million to Sual.

“It’s like comparing apples and oranges,” Romualdez said.

“It is possible that we have a lower rate for the electricity we sell compared to other plants, thus, lower gross receipts, and consequently lower business tax payments.  Furthermore, business tax rates may vary from LGU to LGU,” he added.

“We are a responsible corporate entity that pays its rightful taxes on time and in full,” Romualdez said as he stressed that the company had no intention to “cause panic” by sounding the alarm on the fish cages, but merely putting forward a legitimate concern.

“We deeply value our relationship with Mayor Arcinue and the Sual local government.  We intend to remain as their partner in bringing progress and development to the municipality,” he said. –Reports from Eva Visperas and Johanne R. Macob 

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