By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter
Dingras, Ilocos Norte—With Dept. of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi recommending the cancellation and revocation of 17 electric cooperatives in the entire country, the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative here joined 121 other electric cooperatives in the simultaneous “Black Valentine” protest on February 14, 2019
As a result, all INEC sub-stations held a “special flag ceremony” with all their employees wearing black shirts to express their opposition to Mr. Cusi’s recommendation.
The protest was mainly in reply to an advisory released by the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA) Inc. which encouraged all electric cooperatives to join and participate in the “Black Valentine” and “Black Friday” Protest to depict that all ECs organizations and all their allies are “mourning over the inimical acts of DOE secretary Cusi who also endorsed the approval of the HB 9179 and making ways to revoke the franchise of electric coops and the acts of the Congress in approving the House Bill 8170 which will pave ways to demise of the missionary electrification program of the electric coops”.
The protest will continue every Friday, hence the “Black Friday” protest, until the “hostile action” against electric cooperatives stops. A black flag beneath the Philippine flag at their respective flag pole was also displayed by every electric cooperative as part of the protest.
In a letter, also from PHILRECA, general manager/executive director Atty. Janeene Depay-Colingan to all electric cooperative managers, it is still deemed necessary that all the ECs need to “express and stage the protest against the injustices being thrown to the movement” despite Mr. Cusi’s withdrawal of the recommendation days after its submission.
Ms. Depay-Colingan said the protest “defends and fights” for all electric cooperatives because it has been placed under public scrutiny and has caused damage to the movement’s public image.
INEC general manager Engr. Felino Herbert P. Agdigos said the “Black Valentine” protest aims to magnify the gripe of all electric cooperatives in the country over the “discriminatory treatment” of Mr. Cusi towards the 17 electric cooperatives which he recommended for franchise revocation.
If this happens, Mr. Agdigos said, this would “eventually and possibly lead to the precedence for the revocation of the other electric cooperatives franchises and be invaded by private businessmen”.
He said that the protest increases the awareness of the member-consumer-owner (MCO) and the public about the “unfriendly move” of the DOE secretary.
Father, defender
Mr. Agdigos also expressed his dismay because DOE is supposed to be the “father” and “defender” of electric cooperatives but it turned out to be the opposite.
These 17 electric cooperatives are: the Zamboanga City EC, Davao Norte EC, Basilan EC, Sulo EC, Tawi-Tawi EC, Maguindanao EC and Lasureco all in Mindanao; Abra EC, Pampanga EC, Occidental Mindoro EC, Oriental Mindoro EC, Palawan EC, Camarines Sur EC, Albay EC, Masbate EC, 1st Catanduanes EC and Tablas Island EC in Luzon.
The protest will also re-enforce the opposition of the electric cooperatives against the approval of Congress to the House Bill 8179 otherwise known as the Solar Para Sa Bayan Corporation Franchise all over the Philippines to construct, operate and maintain a micro grid distribution system which is now under deliberation at the Senate.
Mr. Agdigos assured that INEC will continue to be managed well in order to protect the said coop and at the same time follow the laws, rules, regulations and guidelines set by the NEA.
Owned by members
Likewise, Mr. Agdigos wanted to share and empower the MCOs, being part and owner of the coop’s management.
“INEC is a non-profit and non-stock cooperative and if these franchises will be revoked and be given to private entities, they earn profits, and definitely the rates will be affected ket ngumato iti rate iti kuryente no isuda iti mang operate,” Mr. Agdigos said as he cited this as an effect in case the cancelation pushes through.
Mr. Agdigos added that private entities like Meralco charges much higher power rates compared to INEC. He said learned that last week, Meralco increased their rates because of generation charges.
Reports show that Meralco rate for this month is around PHP10 per kilowatt hour compared with INEC which only charges PHP7.50 per kilowatt hour only.
INEC board president Enrico Ruiz, for his part, said the MCOs are the present owners of the cooperative and if big businessmen enters, “Namnamaen tayon ton nga saan tayo a makapag boses ton nga kasla toy ar-aramiden tayo ita” which will definitely affect the interest of the MCOs.
Mr. Ruiz added that INEC is a consistent awardee as “Mega Large Triple A Cooperative” which is the highest award given by NEA, which speaks for itself that INEC is performing very well, and “We are ready anytime to show proofs or documents that would show and proof that INEC has that good standing”.
Condemning the act
Mr. Ruiz also announced that the board passed a resolution in support of the move of PHILRECA and NEA because of the “discriminatory acts” of DOE.
Mr. Agdigos disclosed that INEC only condemned the act of Mr. Cusi and that they are not calling for his resignation.
Mr. Ruiz likewise said that resignation is a personal act and the MCO’s only wanted him to listen to the voice of the electric cooperatives.
PHILRECA speaks
In line with this, PHILRECA Board Resolution was approved condemning the acts of Mr. Cusi for his “betrayal of the government’s genuine total electrification program and his treacherous endorsement on the revocation of franchise of 17 electric cooperatives without due process”.
On January 11, 2019, Mr. Cusi recommended to the House of Representatives through Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo the revocation of franchise of the 17 cooperatives.
These, according to Mr. Cusi, 17 electric cooperatives are “underperforming and financially distressed”.
In the Board Resolution, the recommendation of Mr. Cusi essentially and effectively disregarded the coops’ sacrifices during the last four to five decades where the partnership of electric cooperatives and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) has successfully energized 78 provinces (100%), 1,475 cities and municipalities (100%), 36,057 Barangays (99%), 123,198 sitios (83%) and 12,713 million households’ connections (85%).
Said resolution also states that if Mr. Cusi’s intention is for genuine total electrification, the best approach is to support the ECs by rehabilitating and not disenfranchising them.
Mr. Cusi’s action clearly showed that he is favoring and supporting private for-profit corporations with absolutely nothing to very little experience in electrification.
The PHILRECA Board unanimously agreed that Mr. Cusi’s recent action was more of a hindrance if not outright obstruction and betrayal of the government’s total electrification program.
Meanwhile, Mr. Agdigos also took the opportunity to announce that INEC “strongly supports” PHILRECA as the coop’s party list this coming national elections.
PHILRECA is the national association of the 121 electric cooperatives throughout the entire Philippine archipelago.
PHILRECA was previously named as the Federation of Electric Cooperatives of the Philippines (FECOPHIL).
It was organized on July 1, 1979 as a non-stock and non-profit organization registered both with the NEA and SEC.