THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) said on Wednesday that it would immediately address power-interruption incidents in Virac, Catanduanes.
“NEA will definitely be acting on complaints and/or recommendations, especially coming from electricity consumers. NEA is so concerned of the welfare of the consumers who are also member owners of the electric cooperative. They deserve reliable, efficient and not just affordable but cheap power,” NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong said in a text message.
Masongsong’s comment came after the Sangguniang Bayan of Virac approved a resolution requesting NEA to take over First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ficelco) to ensure the protection of its member-consumers.
SP Resolution 418-2017 rules the lease and sublease agreements between the National Power Corp. (Napocor) and Ficelco; and Ficelco and Catanduanes Power Generation Inc. expired on October 17, 2017. The contracts were no longer extended. The Napocor assured there would be no massive power outages in Catanduanes as a result of the nonrenewal of the agreements because there is sufficient power supply in Catanduanes.
Ficelco issued power-interruption advisories, which stated the lack of power in Catanduanes.
However, the SP said the frequent power-outage incidents “seemed to be a scheme being implemented by dubious individuals to scare the different government agencies and the member-consumers of the Ficelco into thinking there is lack of power in Catanduanes and, therefore, paving the way for the renewal/extension of the lease and sublease agreements.”
As such, the SP deemed necessary to request NEA to take over the management and operations of Ficelco “to ensure freedom from being influenced by the different parties affected by such takeover.”
President Duterte was furnished a copy of the resolution, which was signed by the secretary and assistant secretary of the SP.