Meralco hits ‘demolition job’

Meralco on Tuesday cried foul over an alleged demolition job against the utility firm following the latest survey showing a majority of Filipinos unhappy over what they pay for electricity.

Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco spokesman, said the results of the survey were unacceptable given data from Australian consulting firm International Energy Consultants showing Meralco rates actually trended lower the past few years.

“I find it unfair that that there are reports like this that are coming out. It’s like, pardon my term, another demolition job is [unleashed] against Meralco but we do not know what their motives are,” he said.

He cited Meralco electricity rates in January 2018 against rates in 2012 showing the average bill consumers pay the utility firm went down nearly 18 percent.

“These figures are not a product of the imagination. These are actual facts,” he insisted.

According to Zaldarriaga, Meralco’s rates are not like other commodities whose price went up the past few months.

When looking at the consumer price index that measures inflation, he said while most commodity prices went up, Meralco rates actually eased.