“Power cooperatives should just give up and allow the entry of bigger players so that communities can have sufficient energy and flourish.” – President Rodrigo Duterte
THURSDAY last week, President Rodrigo Duterte was in Palawan to inaugurate a newly expanded port. Speaking in his usual rambling manner, he talked about the woes of progressive local government units (LGUs) still serviced by local electric cooperatives.
He said people in the regions have long complained of power shortages that these electric cooperatives fail to address. He urged these electric cooperatives to “keep up with progress” or else just quit, and he specifically mentioned the power situation in Iloilo that is serviced by these cooperatives.
Yes, he was referring to LGUs in Iloilo province under ILECO and he was not talking about Iloilo City which was quite a refreshing. Note that he talked about Iloilo without a reference or side comment on former mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog who was dismissed from public service on corruption.
Of course there was no mention by the President that Iloilo City has the highest number of fully vaccinated people against COVID-19 outside of NCR and our vaccination of minors (12-17) is well on its way. Then again that’s another story.
Excerpts from a Nov. 6, 2021 posts by Panay News on Facebook:
‘KAAWA NAMAN ITONG — ILOILO, GANOON DIN’
President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday power coo peratives should quit if they could not keep up with electrical demand in their areas to allow the entry of bigger players.
“Itong power shortage situation in the region, matagal na kasi iyong inirereklamo ng mga tao. What is the best solution ditto?” Duterte said during a public speech in Palawan addressing Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
“Kaawa naman itong — Iloilo, ganoon din,” added the President.
“Pero iyong lumaki na gaya ng Iloilo, the cooperatives cannot keep up with progress…Energy must eternally expand. Otherwise, babagsak ang ekonomiya,” he added.
Cooperatives “cannot progress” if both their capital and revenue are small, Duterte said.
He told cooperatives that fail to meet energy demands, “Ibigay mo talaga sa may kaya. Iyong cooperatives, kung may pera kayo, bitawan na ninyo.”
“Ipagbili na lang ninyo, maraming pumapasok eh. Talagang may pera saka may track record… Bigay talaga ninyo sa may pera and so that the community can flourish with energy,” the President added.
Yes, the President was talking specifically about the woes suffered by the LGUs in Iloilo Province under Iloilo Electric Cooperatives (ILECO) I, II and III.
Obviously the President got his information re: Iloilo power woes from this:
Three Iloilo congressmen filed a bill in Congress to amend the franchise and expand the coverage of MORE Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) to several towns in the province currently serviced by ILECO I, II, and III.
Representatives Julienne Baronda (Lone District of Iloilo City), Michael Gorriceta (2nd Congressional District), and Braeden John Biron (4th Congressional District) filed House Bill No. 10258 on Sept. 21, 2021 because of the clamor of their constituents on frequent power interruptions and high electricity rate of these cooperatives.
They mentioned the fact that MORE Power was able to bring down the power rate in Iloilo City to P6.38 per kWh in September, the lowest rate in the country.
HB 10258, which seeks to amend Republic Act 11212 or MORE Power’s franchise to operate a distribution utility in Iloilo City, was already approved in the committee level of the House of Representatives.
It is quite obvious that HB 10258 if and when it becomes law was prompted and inspired by a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of the Municipality of Pavia concern for his constituents.
Excerpts from the Sept. 1, 2021 issue of Panay News:
SB member Daniel S. Fajardo II, in a privilege speech, pointed out that a decrease in the cost of electricity has a direct impact on the lives of Pavia’s residents and stakeholders such as the various businesses that have made the municipality their base of operation.
“Last July 2021, the rate of electricity in Iloilo City was reduced from P10 per kilowatt hour to P6.45 per kilowatt hour… a big relief in this time of pandemic,” said Fajardo.
MORE Power Electric Corp. is the sole electricity distributor in Iloilo City. On the other hand, Pavia is being served by Iloilo Electric Cooperative 1 (ILECO 1).
MORE Power now boasts of having the lowest electricity rate in the country. Pavia under ILECO 1, on the other hand, has a current rate of P10.90 per kilowatt hour.
“I therefore propose, with a heightened sense of urgency, that this august body passes a Resolution requesting our honorable congressman Mike Gorriceta to explore this matter and possibly make the appropriate representations to Congress or to MORE Power if this is at all possible,” said Fajardo.
With Tatay Digong’s nonchalant endorsement of Nong Moroy’s capability, there’s hope yet for a relief from those suffering the shortcomings of electric cooperatives. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com)/PN
