By
Lenie Lectura - February 7, 2019
The Department
of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday assured electric cooperatives (ECs) that the
department would be prudent in its ongoing performance review, which seeks
to pinpoint problems besetting troubled cooperatives.
“There will be due
process for all ECs. Our priority is to address the root causes of their
problems and help in their rehabilitation so they may provide the quality of
services consumers in their franchise areas truly deserve,” said Energy
Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi.
The energy chief
warned, however, that it would not hesitate to impose sanctions on erring ECs.
“For those [with]
extremely dire cases, the government could no longer ignore the negative impact
on citizens. Other reasonable and legal options, as provided in Republic Act
10531 or the National Electrification Administration law must be considered,” the
agency said in a news statement issued on Wednesday.
It identified 17 ECs
that failed many times to provide satisfactory services required by their
electric distribution franchise. Included in the list are the following: Daneco
(Davao del Norte), Aleco (Albay), Baselco (Basilan), Casureco III (Camarines
Sur), Ficelco (Catanduanes), Lasureco (Lanao), Maselco (Masbate), Omeco
(Occidental Mindoro), Ormeco (Oriental Mindoro), Paleco (Palawan), Pelco
(Pampanga), Suleco (Sulu) and Zamcelco (Zamboanga).
The agency
said residents of these areas have been complaining of persistent and
unresolved brownouts caused by some ECs’ heavy debts and failure to pay for
their power supply.
Previously, President
Duterte publicly expressed his dissatisfaction over the poor electric services
in Palawan and Masbate.
“We trust that ECs in
these problem areas will cooperate with the DOE’s constructive efforts to get
to the heart of their long running problems. We will work with the ECs in
creating and implementing viable solutions for the benefit of their consumers,”
Cusi said.
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