Isabela 6th District Rep. Inno Dy on Tuesday called on National Electrification Administration chief Antonio Almeda to put a stop to the mismanagement of electric cooperatives committed by unscrupulous officials.
“Panahon na para tuldukan natin ang mga pang-aabuso ng ibang mga opisyales ng mga electric cooperatives natin. Panahon na para baguhin ang kanilang mga polisiya na mismong nagpapahirap sa mga kooperatiba at nagdudulot ng problema sa ating mga mamamayan,” Dy said during a privilege speech he delivered on Isabela province’s power woes.
Dy has been vocal about the anomalous issues surrounding Isabela’s electric cooperatives, which have been the subject of a congressional inquiry since last year.
He warned that unless erring officials of electric cooperatives are punished, the culture of abuse would continue.
“Dahil kung walang agarang pagresolba o pagdedesisyon sa iba’t ibang uri ng kaso o mga violations mula sa NEA at ERC, marami sa mga opisyales ng mga electric cooperatives natin ay patuloy na aabusuhin ang ating mga coop. Magpapatuloy ang mga anomalaya. Magpapatuloy ang kawalan ng accountability,” the lawmaker said.
Dy has been vocal about the anomalous issues surrounding Isabela’s electric cooperatives, which have been the subject of a congressional inquiry since last year.
Investigations have found that, among other violations: the Isabela Electric Cooperative-1 had collected around P130 million in service fees for late payment, a move that had not been approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission; ISELCO-1 had been paying P2 million monthly for 3 years to a certain DC Tech company for information technology services that have still not been rendered and completed to this day; almost all projects have been awarded to MN Electro Industrial Supply & Services despite repeated delays and failure to deliver on the projects.
As of July 2022, ISELCO-1 has also been unable to collect around P740 million in consumer account receivables, with another P69 million of receivables unaccounted for.
The electric cooperative’s employees’ salaries have also been deducted from P100-P500 against their will for contributions to ONE-EC MCO Foundation for 4 years running.
Dy said that he, along with other lawmakers, plan to call for another investigation into the said foundation over fears that the contributions are part of a fundraising scheme for elections.
The solon said that he is advocating for changes using his province’s experience to warn other areas of the possible effects of mismanagement.
“Sinasabi ko ang mga ito dahil kung hindi sana winaldas ang pera ng aming mga kooperatiba ay mas maganda sana ang kalidad ng serbisyo at baka 100% na ng mga tahanan sa Isabela ay electrified na. Sinasabi ko ang mga problema ng aming kooperatiba sa Isabela dahil dapat hindi ito mangyari pa sa ibang mga kooperatiba,” Dy said.
