Feb 2, 2019
On 11 January 2019, Sec. Alfonso Cusi of the Department of Energy has recommended to the House of Representatives through Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the revocation of franchise of 17 electric cooperatives. Secretary Cusi “reasoned out” that the 17 electric cooperatives are “underperforming and financially and technically distressed”.
Such recommendation was made without even giving due process to the electric cooperatives. The least that Secretary Cusi could have done, as the Father of the government’s energy family, is to have a consultation with the electric cooperatives and give them a chance to defend their side;
By recommending the revocation of the electric cooperatives’ franchises, Secretary Cusi essentially and effectively disregarded the coops’ sacrifices during the last four to five decades where the partnership of electric cooperatives and the National Electrification Administration has successfully energized 78 provinces (100%), 1,475 cities and municipalities (100%), 36,057 barangays (99%), 123,198 sitios (83%); and 12,713 million household connections (85%);
If Secretary Cusi’s intention is for genuine total electrification, the best approach is still to SUPPORT these electric cooperatives by REHABILITATING them and NOT DISENFRANCHISING them. Secretary Cusi’s recent actions clearly show that he is FAVORING AND SUPPORTING PRIVATE FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS with absolutely nothing to very little experience in electrification.
His most recent TREACHEROUS ACTION of endorsing the revocation of 17 ECs’ franchise is MORE OF A HINDRANCE IF NOT OUTRIGHT OBSTRUCTION AND BETRAYAL of the government’s total electrification program.
The electric cooperatives have been the government’s staunchest and most reliable partner in electrifying the countryside. We energized areas that were once considered unviable. We energized many areas when no one is willing to do so. Not just a few lives from our ranks have been lost in our sincere efforts to do our job.
We call on Secretary Cusi to treat all electric cooperatives with fairness and justice. We deserve no less.