Isabela 6th District Rep. Inno Dy expressed hope that a House probe on the poor service rendered by Isabela province’s two electric cooperatives would help improve the province’s power situation.
“We hope that this inquiry will lead to an improvement in Isabela’s power situation. Hindi po makatarungan at makatao ang perwisyong dinadanas ng mga taga-Isabela dahil sa mga electric cooperative na nanumpang pagsilbihan sila,” Dy said.
Dy added that the number of show cause orders issued against the two cooperatives are signs of mismanagement and abuse of power and that the ERC and NEA must impose penalties for these.
On Monday, the House Committee on North Luzon Growth Quadrangle chaired by Ilocos 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba, deliberated on House Resolution No. 367, urging the committee to investigate the performance of the Isabela Electric Cooperatives 1 (ISELCO 1) and 2 (ISELCO 2), and HR 333 urging the Committee on Energy to conduct a probe on the power supply in Isabela.
Other lawmakers from Isabela joined Dy as authors of the resolutions, namely: 1st District Rep. Tonypet Albano, 2nd District Rep. Ed Christopher Go, 3rd District Rep. Ian Paul Dy, 4th District Rep. Joseph Tan, 5th District Rep. Faustino Michael Carlos Dy III, and LPGMA Party-list Rep. Allan Ty.
Dy had also earlier delivered a privilege speech in plenary denouncing ISELCO 1 and 2 for their failure to provide cheap and reliable electricity in the province.
He said that ECs should be able to provide a steady supply of electricity at reasonable and affordable rates, must be transparent and accountable to the member-consumer-owners it serves, and their actions should be consistent with the law.
According to Dy, the power rate in Isabela is at P15.55-16/kWh. In contrast, other areas have much cheaper rates— Metro Manila’s average rate is P9.545/kWh, Central Negros at P12.17/kWh, and Davao Oriental at P12/kWh.
He also blasted ISELCO 1 and 2 for their lack of transparency and accountability with regard to their operations by refusing access to their financial records.
The lawmaker had also called on the National Electrification Administration and Department of Energy to intervene on behalf of the province.
During the hearing, the solon relayed how the electric cooperatives had refused to heed the people’s clamor for change, to the point of ignoring resolutions by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan calling for the conduct of the Annual General Membership Assembly and Regional District Elections.
Dy added that the number of show cause orders issued against the two cooperatives are signs of mismanagement and abuse of power and that the ERC and NEA must impose penalties for these.
The lawmaker had also called on the National Electrification Administration and Department of Energy to intervene on behalf of the province.
“The number one priority of ECs should be the interest and welfare of their MCOs, and not their own,” said Dy.
“Kaya para makasiguro, bukod sa dumulog na ako sa plenaryo ay inihain na naming mga kinatawan ng Isabela ang resolusyong ito para gisingin na rin ang NEA,” he added.
The lawmaker also said that the inquiry could help the Marcos administration make good on its promise to provide cheaper power rates and a stable supply.
“Naniniwala kaming malaking tulong sa administrasyong PBBM ang imbestigasyong gagawin ng ating komite para mapanagot ang mapapatunayang nagpapabaya sa kanilang tungkulin; masuri ang mga pagkukulang sa ating mga batas; at muling lumiwanag sa probinsya ng Isabela,” said Dy.
