The Power for People Coalition (P4P) on Monday staged a rally in front of the headquarters of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) to protest the conglomerate’s insistence on escaping its power supply agreement (PSA) with Meralco, seeking to pass on its losses to consumers.

SMC secured a temporary restraining order (TRO) on its PSA from the Court of Appeals, a move which drew the ire even of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., who publicly questioned the wisdom of such a decision.

“We are seeking to save what’s left of Christmas in a very difficult year. We want to be able to light up our homes without fear of even higher electricity bills, to be able to enjoy a Noche Buena that will not be further reduced by the need to pay SMC,” said Gerry Arances, P4P Convenor.

Arances also mocked the offer from SMC to make its Ilijan power plant’s production, the same plant which is subject to the TRO, available to Meralco at “a fraction of its capital cost,” to “help keep electricity prices as low as possible for consumers.”

“The best deal for consumers right now is to uphold the PSA which SMC has consistently sought to negate. SMC is probably just seeking to contain the fallout from the President’s remarks about its moves, and so now wants to curry favor from the public,” said Arances.

“That being said, SMC cannot just offer power to any distribution utility without a PSA. That’s the law, unless of course SMC does not really care anymore about the law and will just do what it wants. Given its refusal to abide by the PSA it signed in 2019 with Meralco, it should not be allowed to bid for any PSA in the future,” he added.

“Namumulaklak na naman ang bibig ng San Miguel, gusto raw tumulong pagaanin ang pasanin ng mga konsyumer. Pero ang malinaw, pwersahan tayong mas maghihigpit ng sinturon ngayong Pasko kung hahayaan ang mga banta ng SMC na pamahalin ang kuryente. Ang noche buena na isusubo na sana, ang pamaskong maiaabot na sana sa mga inaanak, nanakawin pa. Dapat agarang bawiin ng CA ang TRO na binigay nito sa SMC,” said Leody De Guzman, Chairperson of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP).

“Christmas is too precious to be held hostage by any corporation,” added Arances.

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 Contact: Aryanne, 09295940057