The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has asked the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) to craft a sustainability plan amidst the rehabilitation activities for its power distribution system.
NEA deputy administrator Artis Nikki L. Tortola in a statement on Wednesday expressed dismay regarding PALECO’s persistent distribution failures.
“We cannot do this all the time whenever they have a problem. PALECO must have a sustainability plan in terms of vegetation management, line clearing, and maintenance. Otherwise, the problem would recur,” Tortola said.
In a meeting with the PALECO management last September 26, Tortola emphasized the power cooperative’s need to come up with a sustainability program. He also said that the “hard work and efforts” put by the Task Force Kapatid is merely a band-aid solution, and will be wasted if sustainability is not added into the equation.
PALECO spokesperson Clarina Herrera-Guludah on Thursday said that the elective cooperative has a capital expenditure strategy involving short and long-term plans for the massive rehabilitation.
“Kung ano man po ‘yong instruction nila (pertaining to NEA’s issuance), of course, we are going to comply. Since January 7 (this year), lahat naman ng sinabi nila sa amin ay ipinapatupad at ginagawa namin,” Guludah said.
Meanwhile, NEA administrator Edgardo R. Masongsong said that the rehabilitation works such as clearing, construction, and maintenance for PALECO’s power distribution system will continue as the initial batch of technical service departments and manpower groups completed their tasks last month.
The second batch of cooperatives from the Visayas region, particularly coming from Aklan; Capiz; Iloilo; and Antique, is now preparing to be deployed in Puerto Princesa City. The initial plan for the second batch’s deployment was on September 7 making their timeline now a month behind the schedule.
“The rehabilitation activities are not finished yet but we are making progress,” Masongsong said.
