Consumers Rights Watch (CROW) files ‘Interpleader’ in court on where users can legally pay power bills

Consumers Rights Watch (CROW) Incorporator Dante Jimenez at the Albay Regional Trial Court (RTC) while being interviewed by local media upon filing of the ‘Interpleader’. Note the candle utilized by court employees in their office due to power failure while CROW members were at the RTC.

Legazpi City, Albay – The Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) this city, being one of the biggest paying electricity clients in the province of Albay has participated in actions taken by the Consumers Rights Watch (CROW) Bicol on the poor service rendered by the local power firm which has taken over the operation of the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) a few months ago.

One of the problems that have risen aside from the poor service rendered by the local electricity firm is the issue on the legality of the Albay Power Electricity Company (APEC) to receive payments from power users. The charter given to ALECO states that it is the sole legitimate organization authorized to receive payments from the consumers.

Such provision has not been amended bringing into the limelight the point on the legitimacy of APEC to receive money from electricity consumers. Under the present situation, the consumers are not secure when it comes to their remittances which might land in the hands of those not authorized by law to perform such act. As far as the consumers are concerned there is no clear mandate for APEC nor their being accountable on the money paid by electricity users.

It can be recalled that the legitimacy of the privatization of ALECO has been questioned by the Electric Cooperative’s member-consumers as the impression prevails that there has been no real process conducted. They believe that there was a conspiracy which resulted in the rigging of the procedure which is resulting now to a kind of operation which brings so much misery to the Albayanos in the form of poor service rendered to the people.


Incorporators and volunteers from the Consumers Rights Watch (CROW) Bicol check their papers prior to the formal filing of the ‘Interpleader’ in the office of the Clerk of Court at the Albay Regional Trial Court.

It is expected that after the Court has processed the move made by CROW (Bicol), the consumers will now have the option where to pay their electric bills minus the doubt that their payment might go into the wrong hands which are not authorized by law to receive the remittances made by the electricity consumers.

Meanwhile, the school administration of MPCF-Legazpi has vowed to abide by the law thereby it supports the legal action recently made by CROW (Bicol). ###

‘Buhay Marinero’ radio-tv show highlights young ship officer as model for aspiring seafarers

(Left picture) - 3rd Mate JAY LOMITAO while being featured at the Mariners’ radio-tv show ‘Buhay Marinero’.   (Right picture) - Program Anchors MPCF-Legazpi’s Media Relations Officer Steven James Diño and Mariners System’s Corporate Public Affairs Officer Elmer Abad as they appear on television while interviewing the guest .

Legazpi City, Albay – A 23 year-old  graduate of Mariners Polytechnic Colleges Foundation (MPCF) this city was featured as guest in the July 10, 2014 presentation of Mariners System’s  radio-television show ‘Buhay Marinero’ over DCTV Channel 8 and Radio Veritas.

Jay Lomitao, an alumnus who finished Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation in 2012 now holds an officer-rank of 3rd Mate in less than three years of his career as a seafarer.

During the program, it was learned that he was a scholar and he did his utmost best to maintain the required grades until he graduated and was eventually hired by an international shipping firm where he is under contract up to now.

He is on vacation and while awaiting for his next call-up to be on-board, he does not waste time as he spends it by being a faculty member of the school.  He confided that it is one of his passions to be able to share his experiences to aspiring seafarers who are enrolled at Mariners.

He is happy that he decided to take up a maritime course inasmuch as it is a dream fulfilled.  He disclosed that as a student, he was fascinated by the idea of travelling and visiting  other countries in the world.  He confirmed he already had the privilege of having been to almost all continents of the globe such as Europe, North and South America, Africa, Australia and in Asia. He delights in being able to travel and being paid at the same time in his work as a seafarer.

Another angle of 3rd Mate JAY LOMITAO as guest-discussant at the Radio-TV show.  He passionately conveyed his work experience to the audience and thanked his alma mater while encouraging graduating high school students to take up maritime courses and consider seafaring as a career.

Aside from the attractive compensation, 3rd Mate Lomitao exhorted the would-be and the present crop of maritime cadets to focus and make good in their studies as it will matter much once they start applying for jobs especially in international shipping companies.

He also enticed maritime students to lead healthy lives as health concerns would matter much for a seaman. He cautioned the would-be dollar-earning maritime workers to manage their money correctly and to channel expenditures to worthy endeavors in order to enjoy maximum benefits as the fruits of their labor and for them to be able to secure their future.  ###