The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. (PHILRECA), an umbrella organization of 121 electric cooperatives (ECs), on Friday (May 14) led the nationwide protests against moves to privatize power distribution utilities.
PHILRECA also denounced the unfair treatment of the ECs, citing the case of the Benguet Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BENECO) which is currently questioning the resolution of the NEA Board of Administrators endorsing only one – a Palace official – of the two qualified candidates for the position of general manager (GM).
“The system that we have trusted for so long is the system that is behind what is happening right now.”
Engr. Melchor Licoben, who currently serves as officer-in-charge GM of BENECO, is the other applicant for the regular GM position who passed the screening process.
The NEA memorandum states that the NEA Board of Administrators should transmit to the EC Board the list of applicants who passed the final interview, with necessary information and results of the Background Investigation.
“We are very disappointed with how events are unfolding at the moment. The system that we have trusted for so long is the system that is behind what is happening right now. Never in the history of the rural electrification movement has this system been so blatant in meddling with the affairs of the ECs,” PHILRECA general manager Atty. Janeene Depay-Colingan said.
Colingan also expressed the organization’s strong opposition to privatization of some ECs, including the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NORDECO) and the power coops serving the Negros Island.
“Never in the history of the rural electrification movement has this system been so blatant in meddling with the affairs of the ECs.”
“Profit-driven and private-capitalist corporations have been on the lookout for profitable electric cooperatives. But we will never forget—back when most areas are in dire need for energization efforts, these profit-driven corporations did not dare lift a finger to help the people. As they are for-profit organizations, they are more concerned on profits and not on helping the people, especially the marginalized groups,” the PHILRECA executive said.
Colingan also said that a new player in the energy sector is tarnishing the reputation of the ECs in Negros Island by spreading false information.
“This take-over attempt is despite the Negros cooperatives’ compliance to financial, technical, and other operational parameters as set by regulators. To them we ask: How can you give a franchise to an applicant which does not even have enough experience to manage an energy utility? The success of distribution of electricity cannot be a matter of trial-and-error – there are just so many member-consumer-owners who can be affected,” she stressed.