Electric cooperatives (ECs) found an ally in Misamis Oriental Governor Bambi Emano who publicly stated that he would rather lean on them to power up communities in his province than the private investor-owned utilities.
This is consistent with the position of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), which for years has been asking for reforms in state laws and policies that place ECs at a competitive disadvantage against extremely rich power firms.
Emano declared his support in the presence of NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong himself during the 50th founding anniversary and 48th Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA) of the Misamis Oriental I Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. (MORESCO-1).
In his speech, the governor recognized the crucial role of the agency, which implements the state-funded rural electrification program through its partnership with 121 ECs nationwide in pursuit of sustainable countryside development.
“The NEA is the one squaring up against big corporations who are out to challenge the franchises of electric cooperatives. Without it, profit-driven capitalists can easily grab the market away from electric cooperatives like MORESCO-1,” Emano said in Cebuano.
Emano, however, believes that most private firms are going to be selective in energizing communities. “You cannot expect them to light up barangays that do not have plants or factories. They are only interested in areas that already have existing developments,” he said.
Most private firms are going to be selective in energizing communities.
Consequently, the provincial leader said he is happy to know that the current NEA administrator, who also hails from Mindanao, shares the same perspective. Masongsong is an ardent supporter of cooperative enterprises long before he was appointed to the agency.
The fact that MORESCO-1, the first ever EC in the country, has grown to accomplish 100 percent energization of all cities, municipalities and barangays under its coverage area is a testament to the success of the rural electrification program of the government.
In his keynote address to honor its 50th founding anniversary, Masongsong touted the excellent performance of MORESCO-1, noting its very low systems loss average (2.61 percent) and high collection efficiency (100 percent) in 2017.
The NEA chief hopes these achievements will continue under the command of Engr. Jovel Ubayubay, the newly-confirmed general manager of MORESCO-1, whose leadership is respected by Emano as well.
The award-winning coop currently has 92,058 household connections, serving 83,699 consumers in parts of Misamis Oriental and Talakag in Bukidnon. It aims to position itself as the best power service provider not only in the country but the entire Asia.
Electricity demand under the MORESCO-1 franchise is expected to rise dramatically in the coming years as Laguindingan Mayor Diosdado Obsioma also announced that real estate giant Ayala Land, Inc. is pushing through with its development of an industrial hub in their municipality.
Edna Putian-Diango, the Institutional Services Department (ISD) manager of MORESCO-1, said this would entail additional 40 megawatts in their energy requirement at the very least thus they are working double time to improve their facilities.
Currently, MORESCO-1 has seven long-term capital expenditure projects in the pipeline including a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, construction of N-1 69 kV subtransmission line, and substation upgrades, among others.