Mirant defaults, now what?
Posted on February 1, 2007 - Filed Under General |
LOOKS like it was good while it lasted for the provincial government in the case of the “aborted”(again!) payments of Mirant Corporation, the company that operates the Sual coal-fired power plant. Mirant had settled only a portion of its disputed tax dues to the province from 2003 to 2005 when suddenly the news broke out that it had sold the company because it was in deep financial trouble.
The news from Provincial Treasurer Ramon Crisostomo is that Mirant still had to settle some P72 million in real property tax (RPT), non-payment of which amount now imperils the completion or implementation of several vital projects of the Agbayani administration. Recall that in 2005, Mirant settled with the provincial government when it lost a big case for collection against it. The provincial government, particularly Provincial Administrator Boy Solis was grinning from ear to ear over that manna received by the province, the town of Sual and the host barangay of Pangascasan (Sual) after a drawn out-legal battle.
And now, this – a sudden twist of fate and again, the province is holding an empty (oh, well, near-empty) bag
Of course, the province can always demand and count up the arrears or unpaid dues until the calculator conks out but here, we think, is the classic case of trying to squeeze blood from a turnip?
Time to charge this to experience, Treasurer Mon?
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After all that hoopla by GSIS about computerized services and new programs for members, it seems vision fatigue is catching up with the government insurance system.
Many retirees and pensioners have been airing over the radio stations their dismay at the present “system” of centralizing the release of retirement pension of members such that they have to take repeated trips to the GSIS field office in Dagupan only to inquire if their valued pension has arrived. And all too often, according to them, they are simply advised (or curtly dismissed, at least that’s how some of them view the response) to come back later because the money has not yet arrived or has not been deposited to their accounts yet.
If the retiree is relatively young and still sprightly, coming back isn’t much of a problem. But imagine one aging citizen hailing from the boondocks and traveling all the way to Dagupan just to be told by both the depository bank and by GSIS window employees that the money ain’t in yet.
And this, some retirees say, is repeated not just once but several times – with GSIS personnel matter-of-factly telling them they don’t know when GSIS central can release the money/pension. Can anything be as cruel as that – other than hanging the oldie by his neck on a tree?
If the Service guys do not know it, many of these poor retirees even have to borrow money for their fare going to Dagupan and endure aching bones and muscles to take their long rides.
We could feel happy enough if GSIS guys can at least tell the pensioners what they have been doing to resolve the interminable delay and waiting. We’re sure there’s a better way to prod Central Office to be a little more prompt with the releases. We know GSIS Bossman Winston Garcia can find a way to clear this mess; isn’t he known for that?
Kayo rin, tatanda rin kayo atmagri-ritayr Matakot kayo sa karma
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