Disconnection notices alarmed Teno
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio will convene his finance managers to explore solutions to the growing concerns on the government’s overdue utility bills that necessitated the release of disconnection notices to 40 agencies and offices.
Mr. Tenorio will meet with officials from the Department of Finance, headed by Secretary Lucy Dlg. Nielsen to ensure the continued supply of power in all government offices amid disconnection notices from the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.
“I called up the secretary of finance and I will be meeting with the staff to find out what we can do to resolve this issue,” said the local chief executive in an interview after signing a proclamation commending contributions by the Boy Scout in the community.
CUC earlier disclosed disconnection notices have been mailed out to 40 public offices for the government’s failure to settle overdue bills that now stand at $12.3 million.
Mr. Tenorio also pointed out that the public should also be made aware that the administration is trying to settle its obligations with CUC on a installment basis.
“I want to assure the public that we did pay some of the agreement for the proposed amount that we’re supposed to pay on a monthly basis and submit some of the payment to the CUC,” he told reporters.
According to the Commonwealth-controlled utilities corporation, the government paid $1.5 million and $1.6 million in utility bills in December 2000 and January 2001. The government has a delinquent account with CUC reaching $12.3 million.
“We want to sit down with CUC so we can both find out what should be done. We would be looking for ways to be able to pay the government’s utility bills and at the same time prevent any disruption in government dealings due to power interruptions,” he said.
He also appealed to CUC to consider that the Administration has been faced with a heavy and expensive task of paying for the utility bills of both the executive branches of government and the legislature, as well as the judicial branch.
The governor mentioned the need for the administration and the legislature to come together in trying to find ways to resolve the issue without jeopardizing the operations of government offices bound to be disconnected and the CUC, which currently faces severe funding problems.
“We have to work with the leaders of the legislature, and the leadership from the other islands to assist us and come out with the funding so we could pay the government’s utility bills,” Mr. Tenorio said.
The governor also reminded CUC that it takes little effort to unplug the power in several government offices but so much is expected to be lost if the action would result in the disruption of the delivery of public services.
“Perhaps that will reduce the government obligation but you still incur almost the same expense. And I think it’s about time that we should try to come up with some sort of a resolution,” said Mr. Tenorio.
He mentioned previous efforts by the administration and the legislature to help the utilities corporation make it through when the government allowed CUC use the tax fuel for its continued operations.
