What Utility Service Providers Can Do to Better Their Service

Two companies posture a "no-care" attitude for consumers.

Of late, stalwart companies that provide crucial basic services even during a weather crisis-- like electricity and internet connection, have chosen the path of non-controversy by keeping their issues at bay.

    As in the case of electricity service, which is a priority for consumers, Meralco shunned any overt needs of the public to have a more "people-sympathetic rates" at the height of El Nino weather, especially when the ordinary Filipino household is quietly begging for truce in high-electricity bill.

    Given the average number of hours that the public has to endure during a heat surge, there is a basic six-hour window to escape, or flee from the horribly hot weather, even those who are  in the confines of their homes.  Yet, Meralco has not shown any efforts to  cushion the impact of giving a high electric bill to consumers-- without reprieve or breathing space to make amends with the financial burdens  that many consumers have already.

    The company continues to demand on-time payment of their bills, without any respite, but cannot give a beating heart answer for simple electrical consumption computation requests, should a consumer ask for  numbers on how much an aircon adds up to a bill.  A no-care approach to the out-in-the-open reality that electricity rates are already unbearable, when we compound it with additional demands  for a cooling system in a modern household.  

    In another situation, a utility provider, as if to show the consumers' inability to keep up with bills, chooses to incessantly pass on collection duties to an outside collecting agent, pressing a consumer to a point of "spam", to settle an overdue, and going deafly unheeding a customer request for a post-subscription assistance.  The cable company has been relatively slow in acting on consumers' requests, but would not hesitate to "castigate" or "politely remind" a customer through text, one's a bill is overdue.

    IT SEEMS THAT UTILITY SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE LOST A SENSE OF SERVICE TO THEIR CONSUMERS BY GIVING A DEADPAN/ UNFORGIVING ATTITUDE MANY TIMES OVER WHERE IT CONCERNS BILLINGS AND ADJUSTMENTS OF SERVICES.  Point being, utility providers should exude consumer empathy in the normalcy of their needs and situations, at a time when the paying public are already emburdened with a lot of financial obligations that are hyped by the rising prices of commodities. 

    It is not at the moment an option for ordinary consumers of utilities to tone down their consumption,  because these days, usage are dictated by a faltering climate, and an uncertain economy that sees no  softening of commodity price increases. 

    BEYOND THEIR COMPANIES' NEED TO COLLECT AND GET PAID for their bills, whether service is intermittently interrupted or not, UTILITY COMPANIES MUST GROW OLD IN THEIR APPROACH to give CONSUMERS A MORE DIGNIFIED SERVICE. They must find alternate ways in making things better for all consumers.

“It's Time We Move Out of Exploitative Content"

 “Its Time We Move Out of Explotative Content".

 

Still riding high on “pabida” content online? Move on. We must-- all.

Word translation/ interpretation of meaning:  “pabida”-- colloquial >>> When this word is incorporated into a sentence, it means one is “trying” with discernible effort, to portray one self as a leadman or lead star, the hero or heroine in a story, plot or content. Or in another form, employing "pabida" angles or messaging in content substance, can be viewed as a social media strategy to get attention or arouse reaction from readers, viewers or whoever is the intended recipient of a message or action/reaction.

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Blogs and vlogs these days would have punctuated already that the content in the era of social media is always self-serving rather than altruistic; unlike in the past timeline when neutrality is at least idealized by media providers.

What is self-serving content that  treatens decency  

POV of content: "I or me" approach, that puts the spotlight on  the personal exploits or "day in the life" happenings of the narrator or blogger/vlogger or his/her situational realities.

Lack of language restraint in using words that could be characterized  or categorized as "loud" or unacceptable in other social groups.

Simplification of an issue that should be treated as complexed.

The baring or show of skin by those who are shown on cam or published in content form, to gain controversy.

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    When a magazine show recently featured one vlogger getting a heydey  from the good profits he has been reaping from a street food venture, this gave a lot of positivity to the audiences knowing that  this "street vendor's entrepreneurial story" can be an inspirational one for others. 

    The toss coin or side impact of the publicity gained by the vlogger whose business was "fairyly" and popularly patronized?  His past reputation and negative background was digged out by others,  thus cancelling the supposed advantages of being in the news or popularly featured online.

    Many of the current blogs/vlogs and content are really intended to create avenues for earning or gain opportunities for the content creator who may have been deprived ordinarily with work opportunities,  outside his/her rose to fame. 

    But the apparent transfer or shift of control of multimedia from the hands of responsible content producers, media entities and stakeholders, to allow opportunities to be democratized by individuals, have also endangered the boundaries for privacy, decency and  willingness of others to be exposed on camera.  Candid shots and videos of private individuals who do not want to be seen online, when uploaded, can be a violation of personal privacy and space.

    On the erring ground for content creators, it is not totally freedom of expression that we employ when we explore on topics that push others to debate on the controversial,or challenge the existing opinion of many. 

    Rather, it is the lack of freedom of others in imposing a "no, we refused to be seen on camera" statement, that can be heard reverberating without a sound from the innocent subjects of video cameras. Say perhaps a baby that cannot speak, a teener who cannot defend its own or a woman without enough clout to impose privacy against another's wish.

THUS, OUR "PABIDA" STYLE OF REPORTING, OR CREATING OUR BLOG/S AND/OR VLOG/S MUST BE TAPERED TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THOSE WHO CANNOT SAY NO TO VIDEO LIKES AND POPULARITY THAT  LURE MANY TO BEAR OR TOLERATE A CONCOCTION OF PRIVACY ISSUES BEING DOWNCASTED IN SOCIAL MEDIA.

commentary for the ordinary. News Review Philippines by Anna Liza VB.

WHY MEDIA MUST BE A FORBADE INDUSTRY

 Hapless, helpless unless you make it a money industry.

An open letter to the incoming Mass Comm students

Where Have All the Buses Gone?

 

Amidst the Heat, Commuters Fill to The Raft an Airconditioned Bus. There Were Not Many Around.

There is a deep ratio discrimination on the number of buses versus the mini-est of e-bikes on the road.

                                                                                               

                                                                                               

About a year ago this writer has noticed that despite an attempt into normalcy, that has lapsed from a digital revolution high expectancy to a lackluster future for many, the usual transportation that used to be around to make things convenient for countless commuters, are no longer the visible PUVs plying their normal route.

 

For example, before the pandemic, a wait for an airconditioned bus along the Alabang-Zapote road Pamplona stretch, would not take five minutes. 

 

At the height of El Nino and even as the authorities bewilder about the La Nina to replace it, an ordinary commuter who wants that simple luxury of an “airconditioned”, bus would have to wait for not just up to 15 minutes, but up to 20 to 40 minutes instead. 

 

An airconditioned bus would have meant a lot to ensure a continuance of “normal work/daily routine” for mothers and commuters who want to get a respite from the hyper-intensified heat of the weather. But alas, the wait these days have become like a penitence of sorts.   The number of bus brands have also trickled and yes, a lot have fickled in choosing their passengers as well.  Only one from the familiar bus names before continue to hover around town, in more prevalent hours, to serve commuters.

 

Also, despite more commuters trying on non-airconditioned buses that used to be for the economically challenged, the open somewhat "al-fresco" buses come in reconfigured two row seats like the jeepneys.  These have become a dichotomic statement for the commuters’ lifestyle—for the teens, lolas and workers who are coming from Las Pinas, leaving for the Baclaran route.

 

As we all know these days, a wait for a ride in 15 minutes haunting, is no longer the same as a wait in recent two or more years that passed, at a timeline when waiting, despite being time consuming, can still be patiently done.  Now waiting is tantamount to "PENITENSYA", or sacrifice of sorts and no one seems to take on empathy for the commuter lifestyle.

 

It seems that nobody really took to heart the effects of EL NINO and how to respond to this weather as it dramatically impacts our lifestyle. 

 

To complicate further a passenger who finds himself or herself in a hush for hunger or thirst while waiting, would have to wait for another block to be able to find the nearest food stop in main malls that offer a more democratized alternatives for meal stopovers.    

 

As a commuter waits to endear himself/herself to other commuters, to be able to squeeze into a bus space for that now “human right” or “right of survival”  enjoyment of air-conditioning even in low peak hours in buses,  one would have to contend with a long wait on the streets by the metro, with no shade, or  commuters roof nearby that have been positioned to care for the commuters. 

 

This simply is a testament of our usual, “beat it ‘till you make it attitude”, with many who could be hoping for more action and support against the El Nino weather. 

 

As commuters, we can choose to express a welcoming, "don't sweat the small stuff" attitude in facing the sun.  But that won’t feed or protect us as enough. 

 

Noticeably, there is a slimming quantity of buses, and this ushers in a new hardship for the pocket-wise commuters.

 

We cannot surmise the fact that any leadership would aspire for a modern transportation system that would brag about an increase of status in our economy. But these ain’t happening if the usual things we whine about commuters' need, are not responded to.

 

We need more airconditioned buses that are affordable. And a more kid-friendly transportation mode for anyone to relish.    

 

Against the posing of status of many motorists in their luxury vehicles, who has not probably even experienced the ills of El Nino outside their well-manicured lifestyle, commuters must loud it out that TRANSPORTATION MUST BE NOT ONLY RELIABLE BUT CONVENIENTLY AMENABLE TO ALL CONSUMERS.

 

We Couldn't Care LESS about the Weather

 

While scientists from all over have sounded the alarm button, the country is STILL, hand tied to age-old issues of territorial integrity, food insecurity, and more.

Netizens Get Intrigued Over Accent, Citizenship of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor

Netizens on the thread of a popular commenting/ community sharing site, are talking about Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, and they're flooding the topic with such zealousness.

Going as far as how her accent, citizenship and schooling appears  "sus" (slang), with netizens dissecting point by point their concerns about the real background of the now "controversial" mayor.

Some netizens leaped frog on various topics that intrigued them about the mayor, who is now the subject of a Senate investigation related to POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators).

Deep commenting on the Mayor's less known background which one commenter claimed the mayor seems to have "come out of nowhere", netizens  are going as far as raising issues about the Tarlac mayor's  "accent";  "grammar" and even more prying questions about her "birth certificate".  

Even the local politician's previous homeschooling status, where thrusted into the  commenting site.

The netizens seem to be fixated not just on the controversy she is entangled with, but that they are intrigued that the mayor's surname, does not have mainstream familiarity to the locals, and is  not part of the usual family names that are identifiable to local politics.

NRP May 21, 2024.

Is Cavite Snubbing InterCity Migrants?

So commuter unfriendly. So uncomfortable to walk around during El Nino weather.

Some Like It Rude.

"Tindera", Saleslady, Staff?  However way you call it, some has embraced a "lakas maka-nega" attitude.

                                            

Some Things Ain't No Longer Free, Such as Mall Parking

It will just be from a distant past that parking spaces at a local mall in Las Pinas, used to be free.

Parking spaces at a local mall are fully-occupied during intense hours of El Nino weather.

Para-Paraan Moves By The Locals To Beat The Scourge of El Nino