By Francis Allan L. Angelo
“Oplan Valeria,” MORE Power’s city-wide crackdown on power pilferers, netted 4,000 “jumpers” since July 2020.
In an update, MORE Power reported that almost 4,000 illegal connections that skip power meters were discovered and consequently disconnected in 42 barangays in Iloilo City.
MORE Power said, “the massive haul was recorded in just a matter of 10 days and as the crackdown was happening in different parts of the city, 1,500 households responded to the campaign against jumpers by applying for new electric power connections.”
Jumpers are illegal power connections using “jumper cables” that bypass the meter, exposing the perpetrators to high-voltage electricity.
Jumpers are being blamed for feeder overloads which cause brownouts, fires, and explosions which cause damage to property, injury and even death.
Ariel Castañeda, head of MORE Power’s apprehension team, said that they had instituted a streamlined process to help residents who want legitimate connections.
“We’ve shortened the process even more. As soon as they submit the necessary documents from the City Engineer’s Office, like the Electrical Safety Inspection Certificate, and pay their bill deposit kahit partial lang – yes, even for just P1,000 – they will be installed an electric meter right away, no fuss,” Castañeda said.
He said that to date, around 1,000 former jumpers in the city now have their meters.
Power pilferage is punishable by Republic Act No. 7832 (Anti-Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Act of 1994).
Atty. Allana Babayen-on, MORE Power legal officer, earlier said that six violators of the Anti-Pilferage Law were already hauled to court.
Babayen-on said the law imposes mandatory jail time of up to 12 years and/or a fine of up to P20,000.
MORE Power had estimated that some 30,000 jumpers steal electricity from distribution lines and government-owned facilities.
BLESSING, SIGH OF RELIEF
For Punong Barangay John Gary Patnubay of Brgy. East Baluarte, Molo, the crackdown on jumpers is a blessing that will end fires traced to faulty electrical wiring.
“I really feel a sigh of relief so we can now avoid incidents related to this illegal activity which is common here for many years now,” Patnubay said.
Patnubay said the streamlined process for application of legitimate connections motivated his constituents to stop stealing electricity.
“Let’s give it to MORE Power and its iKONEK Program that it launched in partnership with the city government of Iloilo to encourage city residents in securing their own regular power accounts. In my barangay alone, more than 80 of the 130 applications for electrification are now legally connected with the power company, 50 of which were done in 1 single day on Saturday. It was fast, amazingly fast,” he said.
MORE Power president Roel Castro emphasized that cooperation by residents and barangay officials is key to a productive and successful endeavor in the community.
“This situation in Brgy. East Baluarte, Molo definitely proves that and we expect all the other areas in the city of Iloilo to do the same for us to finally end power pilferage and further improve our distribution system,” Castro said.
