BIZ BUZZ: Meralco, DOE call a truce
It looks like power giant Manila Electric Co. and the Department of Energy (DOE) are now at the same frequency after a hot clash in the summer.
When asked about how they view their relationship with the current leadership at the DOE, now led by Secretary Sharon Garin, Ronnie Aperocho, Meralco’s executive vice-president and chief operating officer, gave a brief chuckle before saying, “Well, so far, we’re okay.”
“In fact, after she became a full-fledged secretary, she’s been going around,” he said in a chat.
Aperocho shared that the new DOE chief even visited their headquarters to check on restoration updates during the onslaught of “habagat” or southwest monsoon rains.
“And somehow, we’re aligned in terms of disaster preparedness, how to respond during calamities, things like that,” he said.
“It’s a very positive gesture to reach out to us,” the company official added.
From a three-page, strongly worded statement issued previously against a DOE official over “utterly untrue” claims, Meralco’s tone is now way, way lighter.
One would declare a ceasefire, too, if it feels under someone’s thumb.
At the height of the rift, the agency recalled a certain permit that had been issued to Meralco’s power generation unit, with some spectators calling it “collateral damage.”
Former DOE Chief Raphael Lotilla himself also hinted at pursuing a probe on Meralco’s alleged competition risks.
But this raises a question: Can this discourage other major players from speaking out or pushing back?
