Ped Exing, whom I delight in reading, pointed to an AIM Forum held last week on “confronting a crisis” in the Philippine power industry.

I wasn’t there, but just looking at the program I can’t believe there was any real open discussion.

Presentors:

Yongping Zhai - Senior Energy Specialist and Richard Ondrik Chief Country Officer, Asian Development Bank

Well, what can I say (briefly) on this. The ADB has its own half-baked agenda it is forcefully ramming downt the throats of Filipino citizens (pardon my undignified outburst and no disrespect meant to the presenters themselves).

Anil Kumar Yadav, Director-Project Export and Finance, HVB Corporates and Markets

Get real. A German bank’s view of these major picketbook (ooops I meant pocketbook - Freudian slip of the finger) issues facing millions of Filipino’s?

Vicente Perez, Secretary of Energy

The Administration’s view - certainly should be part of the conversation. But his intrests are tied at the hip with those of of the ADB.

Exequiel Javier, Senior Vice-Chairman, House Committee on Energy

Can’t really comment; don’t know him and not sure of where he’s coming from.

But my point is that this is a suspiciously incestuous-looking group of viewpoints. What’s the use of this forum? It doesn’t advance the conversation.

I’d love to see AIM get with UAP and UP - they all bring a different bent to this discussion and mutually keep the arguements of the others in balance. And … this would still be way too Manila-centric. Get entities (and people) that reside in Mindinao and Visayas involved. And the NGO’s! And the utilities (the Filipino ones!)

I would certainly bet that Nani Roxas, who wrapped up the Forum for AIM, and a true Renaissance man, was bored to tears.