In his years of work experience and public service, NEA Administrator Edgardo "ERM" Rama Masongsong has proved himself a true man of the people. Actively working for the interest of the underserved sectors of the society, Mr. Masongsong has lent his expertise in organizing, developing, and managing cooperatives and various economic enterprises aimed at building the capabilities of the rural workforce.

As Representative of I-CARE Party-list to the 16th Philippine Congress, he worked for the passage of bills leading to the empowerment of electricity consumers in the countryside, among them the bill creating the Mindanao Power Corporation (MlnPoCor). During his stint at the Congress, Mr. Masongsong likewise lobbied for the mobilization of government funds for the reconstruction of the distribution lines of electric cooperatives devastated by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

While he was the General Manager-CEO of the Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BUSECO), Mr. Masongsong introduced various measures that led to the improvement of the distribution system of BUSECO and the increased involvement of the Member-Consumer­Owners in the affairs of the cooperative. Specifically, he initiated the formation and organization of the member-consumer empowerment program (MCEP) whose thrnst was to intensify consumer education campaigns and thereby improve the collection rate of the cooperative. The said measure resulted in a collection efficiency level of 96.42% in 2011 from a low of 78% in 2005, and was instrumental in making BUSECO a billionaire electric cooperative for the period ending December 2012.

For nine years, Mr. Masongsong also served as Assistant City Administrator of the City Government of Cebu where he managed the City's economic enterprises such as the operation and management of ten public markets and three city abbatoirs. While in government service, he activated 16 market-based cooperatives and a federation1 which benefitted farmers, market vendors, and the urban poor.

Mr. Masongsong obtained his proficiency in managing cooperatives, quite notably, from a substantial period of working as the Branch Manager for Region 7 of the Visayas Cooperative Development Center (VICTO) with branch offices in Cebu, Negros and Bohol.

Before his involvement in the cooperatives and the government, Mr. Masongsong was an organizer of various sectors in Mindanao, and worked closely with the Consortium for Rural and Urban Service Projects and the Parishes in Davao City and Cotabato Provinces.

Mr. Masongsong finished Bachelor of Arts Major in Philosophy, undertook Theological Studies, and took Masters in Public Administration (12 units) and Master of Management in Business Management (2 semesters). He was issued a Certificate on Professional Management Development Program (PMDP), an Executive Development Program of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), in 1994. He is likewise a Certificate holder having completed the Capacity Building and Leadership Program for CEOs by the Global Competitiveness Institute in partnership with the NEA back in 2010.

Now, as the new Administrator of the NEA, Admin ERM takes leadership of the Agency with greater fervor for the realization of the envisioned total development in the countryside through the Rural Electrification Program of the government, in partnership with the globally competitive-Electric Cooperatives and empowered electricity consumers.

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