Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi recognized the critical role played by the electric cooperatives in providing basic electricity services to Filipinos, particularly in times of disaster and calamity situations.
Secretary Cusi cited the situation in Marawi City where electricity services have been affected due to the ongoing hostilities between government troops and local terrorists belonging to the Maute group.
The Energy Secretary commended the commitment and sacrifice of the personnel of Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LASURECO), which is under Task Force Duterte Lanao Sur Power, to ensure the continuous delivery of basic electricity services to the residents of the conflict-stricken city.
“Let me reiterate our sincere appreciation of your constant invaluable support to DOE as our untiring implementors on the ground of the government’s total electrification program. In fact, ‘yon lang sa nangyayari ngayon sa Marawi, just to keep the province energized, our people on the ground are doing a lot of sacrifice,” he said.
“Our people are risking their lives and we have to give it to them, our unsung heroes, the people in the field of Lasureco,” the secretary said during the 20th National Conference of the National Association of General Managers of Electric Cooperatives (NAGMEC) last week in Manila.
National Electrification Administration (NEA) chief Edgardo R. Masongsong, meanwhile, said the bravery and commitment demonstrated by the Task Force headed by Acting General Manager Nordjiana Ducol are truly commendable.
“The actions of Task Force Duterte Lanao Sur Power validate what we knew all along, that Acting General Manager Ducol possesses the strength to take care of her people during adverse circumstances, and determination to address the plight of Lasureco,” Masongsong said.
Acting General Manager Ducol was last to leave the LASURECO headquarters in Marawi City when the fighting erupted on May 23 after ensuring all the workers and facilities were safe and secure.
Task Force Duterte Lanao Sur Power was created by NEA to reverse the downward spiral of the electric cooperative and help it become more operationally viable.