Last month, Filipino consumers came to the brink of the breaking point.
They are now more than angry. They are furious.
The situation is coming to a boil – and not just because of record-high temperatures, nor of the intensifying political situation.
As the country simmers in high heat, brownouts once again became a part of everyday life.
Supply shortages, sudden failures in transmission, not to mention “spaghetti” wires suddenly bursting into flames in the middle of the night – all these have once again plunged Metro Manila, Laguna province and other areas of the country into darkness.
Bad enough that our electricity sector is failing in its job, but in San Pedro City, Laguna, residents also found themselves without water for almost an entire week due to pipes suddenly bursting.
Not to mention the domino effect caused by the recent brownouts to other utilities such as water.
And to top it off, it now appears that the utility distribution firms which hold a virtual monopoly over our water and electricity are now raking in millions from our misfortunes.
Consumers already burdened by spiraling costs of goods and commodities are now experiencing “bill shocks,” as well as revelations that these companies are apparently allowed to get away with charging us even after delivering nothing in return.
This is legalized robbery on a grand scale.
And where are our public officials?
Where are the legislators who are supposed to craft bills to protect our consumers? Where are the “regulatory” (although as this newsmagazine had pointed out countless times, “regulatory” sounds like an oxymoron) officials who are supposed to halt these abuses and failures?
While our officials are engaged in a battle over the preservation of their personal and political fortunes, our kababayans are now seething with rage at a failed government.
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