A local legislator from the province of Palawan has thrown his support behind the decision of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to maintain the status quo at the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) and retain the current members of its interim board.
Board Member Ryan Maminta said that as the government agency regulating electric distribution utility cooperatives, NEA has the authority and prerogative to make such a decision, especially since it was intended to improve the quality of services PALECO provides to its member-consumer-owners.
Maminta, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Energy, made the statement in reaction to the announcement by NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda that the current composition of PALECO’s interim board will be retained a year after it was installed.
He also said the NEA takeover of PALECO stemmed from several setbacks that caused power rates in the province to skyrocket and led to frequent and prolonged power outages.
“Remember, bago nangyari ito, bago nagkaroon ng interim board ay dumaan tayo sa emergency power supply agreement (EPSA) – halos dalawang taon natin binuno yun, hindi yun naresolba ng dating board. Naresolba nang mabilisan yun sa loob ng isang taon pagkatapos na makialam ang NEA, ang DOE ng todo-todo kasama ang Konggreso pati tayo sa Sangguniang Panlungsod at Sangguniang Panlalawigan para matapos yung proseso,” Maminta said in an interview with the media.
“Kaya ngayon, meron tayong iba’t-ibang paborableng decision. Unang-una yung decision na i-refund ng Napocor yung ₱980+ na ang sakop ay isang taon na October 2024–October 2025 na dating EPSA pero na-convert nila doon sa Transitory PSA para pumasok sa mga kaukulang probisyon ng Epira Law. Ang naglakad nito ay ang NEA at Konggreso,” he added.
Maminta also said that with the Transitory Power Supply Agreement (TPSA), the subsidy PALECO receives through the universal charge for missionary electrification (UCME) contributed to the reduction of power rates from ₱18–₱19 down to ₱11.
He further said that with the recent developments, Almeda has expressed support for the renewal of PALECO’s franchise, adding that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is also inclined to back the renewal.
Maminta explained that while concerns were raised about the interim board allegedly leaving member-consumer-owners unrepresented, this did not result in a loss of service but instead led to improvements in service quality.
“So sa tingin ko, we could give them the benefit of the doubt na hanggang ngayon ay ginagawa nila yung kaukulang aksyon at hakbangin na walang anumang political or other inclinations or other considerations maliban sa gawin nila yung trabaho nila,” he said.
“Pero kung aabot tayo doon sa pagtutuos na magkaroon tayo ng halalan, dadalhin din natin at pag-uusapan kasi ibig-sabihin nun ay nalampasan na natin yung mga pagsubok na nadala sa atin,” he added.
