Electric cooperatives (ECs) continue to work with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) while doing their part to ensure uninterrupted power as the country grapples with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and other natural calamities.
This was the assurance given by members of the House of Representatives’ “Power Bloc”––composed of Ako Padayon Party-list Rep. Adriano Ebcas, APEC Party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc, PHILRECA Party-list Rep. Presley De Jesus, and RECOBODA Party-list Rep. Godofredo Guya––in response to concerns raised by Senate Energy Committee Chair Sherwin Gatchalian regarding the alleged unliquidated subsidies that were extended to ECs from 2016 to 2019.
The four solons reiterated that the subsidies that remained unliquidated amounted to P200 million, not P2.5 billion as inaccurately cited by Gatchalian.
The four solons reiterated that the subsidies that remained unliquidated amounted to P200 million, not P2.5 billion as inaccurately cited by Gatchalian.
“Malinaw naman ang eksplanasyon ng NEA dito; a large part of these subsidies involves ongoing projects, while the completed projects must still be reviewed by the agency before they are accepted,” said Dagooc.
“Syempre, dahil sa pandemya at mga lockdown, ‘di naman physically ma-inspect ng NEA ang mga proyektong ito.”
According to De Jesus, on the other hand, he and other members of the Power Bloc understood the concern regarding unliquidated releases to ECs, but stressed that the government could depend on ECs to aid in good governance efforts, as well as to do their share to help the country in any way possible.
“The members of the ECs we represent are also tax-paying citizens, and they also want to make sure their taxes are well-spent. Kaya di rin namin hahayaan na di ma-liquidate ang mga releases na ‘yan,” said De Jesus.
De Jesus stressed that “naiintindihan namin ang concern ng ni Sen. Gatchalian.”
“They should keep in mind, however, that ECs are always willing to do what is needed to help our country. Nung nahirapan ang ating mga kababayan dahil sa pandemya, mismong mga ECs ang nag-propose ng paraan para di pampabigat ang electricity fees,” said De Jesus.
Guya for his part pointed out that “in times of disasters and in other natural crises, the ECs are always willing to do what is needed to restore and maintain power, di na namin hinihintay ang subsidies mula sa gobyerno. Ilang beses na kami gumagawa ng Task Force Kapatid para tulungan ang kapwa EC namin.”
Task Force Kapatid is coops’ way of helping other ECs to restore distribution systems severely affected by natural calamities. They send their own linemen, engineers, and trucks and equipment to the affected regions or ECs making restoration fast and at no cost to the affected EC.
“In times of disasters and in other natural crises, the ECs are always willing to do what is needed to restore and maintain (electricity) power.”
Guya revealed that ECs were also partnering with the government in the implementation of programs like the Department of Agriculture’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Saka program, the Department of Labor’s TUPAD program, as well as the distribution of SAP in the provinces.
Ebcas echoed Guya, and emphasized that “ECs are at the frontlines and we understand our role.”
“Kaya inuuna namin ang trabaho, inuuna namin ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan––saka na ang singilan sa power bills, di ba? We know there is an appropriate time and place for everything.”
Meanwhile, PHILRECA, the umbrella organization of these electric cooperatives, said: “The organization is helping ECs to consolidate their concerns with the NEA and COA with the hope of coming up with a work around on COA’s problem with regard to evaluating and auditing the ECs’ subsidies.”
“Electric cooperatives, as nonstock non-profit distribution utilities, may have limited sources of revenue but with that circumstance comes its efficient way of managing whatever funds they have or subsidies they receive from the government,” the organization added.