March 6, 2019 | 12:02 am
THE Department
of Energy (DoE) has reduced to eight from 17 the number of electric
cooperatives that are “ailing” and have failed to provide the required
services, leaving them open to a possible takeover by private entities.
“Eight ’yung lumalabas.
Kinakausap namin para maayos ’yung system. Wala tayong nire-revoke (There
appears to be eight. We’re talking to them to fix their system. We have not
revoked [any franchise].),” Energy Undersecretary William Felix B. Fuentebella
told reporters on Tuesday, about a month after the DoE secretary ordered a
review of the cooperatives’ financial and technical performance.
He identified the eight
as the electric cooperatives (ECs) in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Ticao,
Maguindanao, Abra, Lanao del Sur and Masbate.
Mr. Fuentebella said
private entities had been targeting the ailing cooperatives to have their
franchises revoked, leading to a possible takeover.
“Sinasabi ni
Sec. [Alfonso G. Cusi] Cusi mag-concentrate tayo sa ailing [ECs]
and at the same time, paano natin maayos ’yung system kung ano ’yung
best sa kanila. (Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has been saying that we
should concentrate on the ailing ECs, and at the same time look at how we can
fix their system and find what’s best for them.),” he said.
Mr. Fuentebella said
they will submit a report to Mr. Cusi, who will then decide on the next course
of action. The results of the review is expected within the first half.
Meanwhile, as the DoE
pursues the review of the ECs financial and technical performance, the
cooperatives called for Mr. Cusi’s resignation.
Philippine Rural
Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (Philreca), which has 121 member-ECs
nationwide, claimed that Mr. Cusi is “incompetent and ignorant of the law.”
It pointed to his
alleged “biases and pre-conceived negative notions against electric
cooperatives; preference to private for-profit corporations; abuse of power;
lack of genuine knowledge regarding rural electrification and cooperativism,
and failure to recognize the success and gains of rural electrification and
development not just because of the government through the National
Electrification Administration (NEA) but most especially because of electric
cooperatives commissioned and considered implementing arm of the government.”
Separately, NEA
Administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong has called on the leaders of the cooperatives
and the officials of the DoE “to engage in a dialogue and find bases of unity
and work together to reconcile their respective policy positions on issues that
are relevant to an industry that affects the lives of 104 million Filipinos.” —
Victor V. Saulon
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