Cotabato seeks royalty tax subsidy from Energy Dept

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The provincial government of Cotabato has yet to collect from the Energy Department some P33.4 million in royalty tax from the Mount Apo geothermal power plant. The money, according to Cotabato 2nd district Board Members Jose Tejada and Noel Baynosa, respectively chair and co-chair of the Committee on Infrastructure and Energy, is still intact with the Energy Department since last year. Tejada said that North Cotabato, host province of the Mount Apo geothermal power plants, and the city and the barangay where the power plants are located, are entitled to a P1 per kilowatthour subsidy. Cotabato Gov. Lala Talinio-Mendoza has already instructed the Sangguniang Palalawigan committees on infrastructure and energy and health and sanitation to prepare project proposals and submit them to the department for budget appropriation. “Sayang din naman kung ‘di magagamit. Andyan na ang pera, eh (It would be a waste if we don’t use it. The money is already there)," Mendoza said. —VS, GMANews.TV