‘POWER STRUGGLE’. A consumers' group in Palawan is petitioning the National Electrification Administration to take control over the management of the Palawan Electric Cooperative to address power outages and soaring electricity costs. Seen in this undated photo are power linemen conducting maintenance operations. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan – A consumers’ group in this province is urging the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to assume management control over the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO), citing its alleged inability to provide dependable and affordable electricity.
The Palawan Electric Member-Consumer-Owners (PEMCO) signed a petition to formalize its appeal to the NEA, but said it will elevate its grievances before the House of Representatives.
Antonio Cabrestante, a PEMCO convenor, told reporters over the weekend that they intend to raise the province's power problem to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy.
He said PEMCO's primary goal is to stop the apparent inability of PALECO to address the issues that have led to recurrent power outages as well as steep increases in their power bills stemming from dubious Emergency Power Supply Agreements (EPSAs).
Cabrestante said they demand immediate action to end the crippling power outages plaguing Palawan.
“We seek full control over the operation (of PALECO). They (NEA) will most likely install a new manager… and even the directors must be NEA-appointed. PALECO still has five years left in its franchise, we prefer that NEA remains in charge until then,” he said.
Under NEA oversight, Cabrestante said it has the option to conduct a distribution bidding process during that period, consider a buyout, or even terminate the franchise altogether.
He said PALECO's franchise, unlike a congressional franchise, was granted by the NEA and is subject to revocation at any time.
Cabrestante said they firmly believe the NEA takeover will effectively resolve the electricity issues that have hampered hospital operations, forced businesses to close, left tourists bewildered by power supply problems, and caused families to grapple with the high costs of electricity plagued by frequent interruptions. (PNA)
