by Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
Dag-um ug Damgo
It was in the mid 90’s that I encountered the two personalities. One was the Department Head of PPUD of the Provincial Capitol – Sir Dag-um and the other one was Sir Damgo. I could not remember anymore who was the higher in rank.
It started with a simple complaint regarding the water connection in our store, then the Baclayon Trading along B. Inting St. – just beside the Agora (now the City Square Shopping Center). Those were the times when the Agora was the bagsakanan of newly harvested fruits and vegetables.
Our complaint was this: Gatuyok ang water meter pero walay tubig nga miagas. Human sa pipila ka tawag sa maong buhatan, wala gyu’y taga PPUD nga mingtungha aron mutagad sa among reklamo. We extended our patience and waited for days that became weeks and months. Wala gihapon. So I decided to go to the office personally, only to find out that the two personalities, Mr. Dagum and Mr. Damggo were out of the office. And with the many people inside that office, nobody wanted to take responsibility of taking action about my complaint.
Gikapuy na bitaw ko ug balikbalik. So I decided to go to the radio station to air my complaint. My point here was this: PPUD, then, was a social enterprise, and as such, it was supposed to answer ASAP people’s complaints and give a speedy solution to any problem.
At the station, I said this (for PPUD): This tongue will be of thistle and thorns until you will right the wrong.
But even with the sharpness (maybe) of my tongue, my pleas fell on dry sand and deaf ears. There was no quick response at all. Though in conscience I did not and do not still want to pull strings, I was prevailed upon to go to Manang Malie Tirol, the then first lady, for some help about my complaint.
Niadtong tungora, nakapangutana gyud ko sa akong kaugalingon: Kinahanglan ba gyud ta mangita ug kapit aron kita matagad sa mga tawo nga anaa unta sa ilang mandato ang pagpanerbisyo?
I’ve been in government, too, and even if my government service was in the academe for a government-run school, I believe that we must give the best we know, in order the serve.
In the year 2000, daghang nalipay nga dihay misulod nga SALCON aron mahatagan ug kaugmaran ang pagpanerbisyo sa atong panubig. And the SALCON service was good and the government had its share of the profit.
During the PPUD time, the consumers and the government shared and shared the loss: Aside from poor service, there were no dividends received by the provincial coffers.
After almost 25 years after, SALCON got out of the joint venture. I guess it has to be done since the other side of the partnership has not done its share which is to work on the franchise of the company. Para kanako, kinahanglan gyud unta tabangan ang BLCI sa SALCON sa pagRENEW sa ilang franchise. And my question is: Did all the congressmen/congresswomen of Bohol exert their efforts to have the BLCI franchise approved in Congress? In the first place, did our local government want SALCON to continue its task in Bohol? Your answer is as good as mine.
So, if I were Salcon, I’ll do what I must, and they did! I would also sell my company’s shares to another power company who is a big player in the industry with a tract record of profitability. I’m emphasizing profitability since this is the lifeblood of the business. We have to understand that this kind of business is being controlled by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
In our experience with GOCC (Government Controlled Corporations), daghan gyud ang lackluster performance. Luoy gyud ang service. I know there are those who are devoted to the oath they swore to serve but in the process they weaken.
This is just my observation coming from the radio program of BLCI and Bohol Water. They have dedicated men and women in the service. And the fact that they are all absorbed by the new company means Salcon had their human resource treasures. I truly miss the BLCI and Bohol Water weekly program at dyTR. They were very informative.