Baguio mayor studies Tuba request on Asin hydros
September 28, 2010 in Baguio City
By ADELA DEYAEN WAYAS
www.nordis.net
BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Mauricio Domogan said he still has to study the request of the Municipality of Tuba for a share of the revenues of the Asin hydros. However, he said the city has to follow the national law on revenue sharing.
In Municipal Resolution 73, Tuba is requesting the city government of Baguio for a share of three percent from the gross receipt output of the three minihydros namely Asin Plant I and Plant II located at Barangay Tadiangan and Poblacion, and Asin Plant III in Nangalisan, Tuba.
“In as much as the City of Baguio is utilizing these mini-hydros for business, it is just right and proper that the Municipal Government of Tuba be shared from the utilization of its national wealth,” the resolution read.
Moreover, Tuba is also asking a share of 3,000 watts for the municipality’s street lights and public buildings and a one million peso allocation for the improvement of roads in Asin.
“If it is stated that three percent then three percent, if it is two percent then we follow,” Domogan said. He added it is the city’s obligation to pay Tuba for operating the three hydros in Asin.
“Nu adda piman ti mabingay dita apay ketdi nga haan mo piman nga ikkan, ngem nu saan ta agrigrigat, anya ngay ti bingbingayem,” he said. “Nu adda ti production nga pagbibingayan haan nga narigat nga pagtutungtungan dayta, ” he reiterated.
Domogan said that there should be cooperation among the people so that there would be improvement in the three hydros. “If they want a development it should be given to an investor,” he said.
The City government of Baguio took over the operation from Baguio Water District and HEDCOR when the their Management Contract with Tuba expired on September 1, 2006. # nordis.net
On the other hand, as the BENECO which covers both Baguio and Tuba, has now achieved the requirements not just to distribute electricity, but as well as involve in generation; plus this is very much in their line of work and capability; plus they have proven that they do it efficiently both production and economic wise… so let the BENECO take over the whole operation…. and let the Baguio and Tuba administrators, attend to improving the governance and administration of the areas, so the watersheds which ensure the renewable generation of electricity would be better cared for as well as to further ensure improvements in the local business climate and infra-structure to encourage productive enterprise and jobs so the electric energy produced is better utilized and will result in earnings for public revenue and the private sector in both Baguio and Tuba.
Mayor Domogan does not have to look farther for a more capable entity to run such facilities.