Firm cuts off power supply in Central Luzon's "security command post"

FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, PALAYAN CITY - The electricity service in this camp, which hosts the 7th Infantry ("Kaugnay") Division - has been cut-off and is currently running on single generator units of 7.5 or 8 kilovolts capacities depending on the area being served.

Although the power supply was cut-off effective Nov. 1, it was only known publicly the other day on questioning by the local media here.

Only last June, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has committed to set aside P1 billion for the anti-insurgency campaign of the government.The electricity needs of this 37-hectare camp - touted as the biggest boot camp the army is operating in the country - is being provided by NEECO II-Area 2, which serves 10 muncipalities and the city of Palayan in the central Nueva Ecija area.

According to Nueva Ecija II Electric Cooperative - Area 2 (NEECO II-Area 2) general manager Ramon de Vera, the power supply in the camp was cut-off at the request of Maj. Gen. Juanito Gomez, 7ID commanding general.De Vera said Gomez had himself requested the power cut-off as he had wanted to set the records straight as to how properly the account may be settled without compromising the operations of the various service units in the camp.Without going to details, de Vera said Gomez had partially settled the camp's P6.4-million electric bills as of September, which had accumulated over the years.

"The unpaid electric bills of the camp is now about P4-million," de Vera disclosed even as he said the general has promised to settle the full amount involved within the week.

Gomez, who assumed office here Sept. 11, vice now-retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan Jr., said that several camp commanders before him had tried to settle the account on a staggered basis, which had been approved by the power server. -Magtanggol Vilar