This inaction suggest that its either these managers do not know what there is to know about due process protections, or does know, yet, remains insensitive to the fact that it provides a fair and equitable access of programs and effective representation of laws and its’ rules and regulations when dealing with the society, if not, an individual. It is my understanding that government and autonomous agencies exist by laws and regulation and therefore, mandates innovative and creative policy-making that provides fairness and/or “due Process” protections to affected individuals. Top, middle and lower echelons managers are tasked or should be tasked to ensure that there is fairness in what they do with the conscience of a good and effective representation of law for each affected taxpayer that comes their way. No, don’t get me wrong. Do not do any favor if it does call for the elements of laws to be applied appropriately, but provide the simple application of what other alternatives does one have to be heard of their disagreements resulting from a decision that is opened for redress due to a potential flaw of such decision. Emphasis should be made that an appellate process is available to be heard of their disagreements.
Let us use the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Before I continue, let me take this moment and express appreciation to the rank and file personnel who works so hard to provide services to the people that are in need. I mean no direct or indirect insult and disrespect to them. My “beef” is with the people who are on the “wheel” that we know are insensitive to the principles of due process protection when making a decision vested by laws.
I have friends or known of many people who appealed the decision of a specific billing that they have disagreed. The so-called counter personnel at CUC will stick with the original backing by trying to explain the grammar and define between lines what a notice is saying when the notice is self-explanatory enough for any dropouts to digest. Although they had fully digested the contents of the notice, the personnel ignored their understanding and continued to digest the notice differently. When you write a written grievance to be heard by the director regarding this disagreement, the director sent it down to the original people that made this decision. These personnel felt insulted and somehow threatened when their decision was appealed. So instead of addressing the appeal and giving them the opportunity to be heard, another inaccurate notice (more amount) was sent to them setting the date in which your electricity is to be disconnected. When they made an appeal to the director again, their power was disconnected at least seven days earlier prior to the set date. When they came in to appeal the disconnection flaw, they stuck to this decision and made you pay the inaccurate amount, security deposit and the connection fee because they knew that my friends needed power. What’s more disturbing was that they received another current billing after their electricity was disconnected a month ago. They were charge of electricity base on estimates even it was evident that they had no power during the specified billing period. This is a perfect poetic justice deriving from not comprehending what and how do due process protection applies in situation like this one.
To Mr. Muna. Address this flaw immediately. Forget politics and your colleague within. They may be doing something good, but the fact is that this organization is not their house that they must not believed that they can put in place any kind of policy that contradicts options and alternatives as a matter of rights and not privileges. Director, we have faith in you and perhaps you maybe the reason that many are sticking with our present administration. Protect our governor from further destruction. TICK TOCK, THE ELECTION ZONE IS COMING UP.
ALFRED A. PANGELINAN
Dandan, Saipan
