The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has assigned a project supervisor to oversee the daily operations of an electric cooperative (EC) in Ifugao province in a bid to improve the power distribution utility’s operational efficiency and standards of service.
NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong issued an office order appointing Romeo Acuesta as Project Supervisor and Acting General Manager (PS/AGM) of the Ifugao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (IFELCO), effective January 4, 2021.
“In order to prevent further service decline, and to protect the interest of the member-consumer-owners, it is imperative for NEA to intervene.”
“In the exigency of the service and pursuant to Sections 4(e) and 5(a) of Presidential Decree No. 269 as amended, Mr. Romeo Acuesta is hereby designated as the Project Supervisor/Acting General Manager of Ifugao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (IFELCO), effective 04 January 2021,” NEA Office Order No. 2020-134 stated.
In issuing the order, Masongsong cited IFELCO’s deteriorating operational performance over the past few years that has adversely affected the delivery of service to its member-consumer-owners (MCOs).
Based on the EC Overall Performance Assessment conducted by the NEA, IFELCO retrogressed from “A” rating in 2015-2017 to “C” in 2018, and remained in the “C” category in 2019. On the EC classification level, IFELCO was graded Yellow 1 from 2015 to 2019. The NEA also noted the EC’s non-compliance to standards on collection efficiency and on system loss cap in 2018 and 2019.
“The retrogression in operational performance has, in turn, adversely affected the interest of the member-consumer-owners. In order to prevent further service decline, and to protect the interest of the member-consumer-owners, it is imperative for NEA to intervene,” Masongsong said.
As indicated in the NEA Office Order, Acuesta is mandated to manage the day-to-day operations of the EC and ensure the efficient delivery of electric service to its MCOs.
In issuing the order, Masongsong cited IFELCO’s deteriorating operational performance over the past few years that has adversely affected the delivery of service to its member-consumer-owners.
He is also authorized to approve or disapprove EC Board resolutions in consultation with concerned NEA departments; sign checks, withdrawal slips, and other banking transactions, as well as perform other tasks that may be assigned by the NEA for the purpose of operational efficiency.
IFELCO is the lone power distribution utility in the province of Ifugao, which is composed of 11 municipalities, namely Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Asipulo, Banaue, Hingyon, Hungduan, Kiangan, Lagawe, Lamut, Mayoyao, and Tinoc.