The National Electrification Administration (NEA) held a two-day Consultative Conference with the Electric Cooperatives (ECs) from 19 to 20 May 2022 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City. 113 ECs from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, represented mostly by General Managers, participated in the event.
NEA Administrator Emmanuel P. Juaneza set the direction of rural electrification in consideration of the new national leadership. In protecting the ECs interests, he invited them to ensure that their competency as business entities and providers shall be at par or better than that of the private companies. This entails revisiting their relationship with the MCOs and strengthening linkages with LGUs and members of the House of Representatives.
“We must review our resources for transitioning into renewable energy, it is part of the Philippine Energy Plan”, the NEA chief adds.
In line with fortifying performance and solidarity, Board Member Agustin L. Maddatu emphasized that the consultative conference is the right forum for the ECs to develop resolutions for issues and concerns. He also mentioned that in the time of uncertainties like the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, the advent of recession and the soaring of fuel prices, the mandate must still be continued to be fulfilled.
To ground the collaborative workshop in facts, Director Ana Rosa D. Papa, concurrent Department Manager of the Office of Performance Assessment and Special Studies (OPASS) and Corporate Planning Office (CPO), presented the ECs’ 2021 Performance Assessment. She identified the relevant EC progress, points for improvement, as well as the mechanics for determining assessment results.
The CPO, together with the representatives from different NEA Departments, spearheaded the breakaway group discussion. The ECs were clustered accordingly to encourage more focused discussions. The format for addressing each raised topic involved identifying the support they need from NEA, as well as the ECs’ plans, programs, targets, and timelines.
Among the proposed resolutions are specific means to better communicate issues with DOE and ERC, to improve the allocation of funds, the transition to renewable energy, the quality of power supply and services, consumer connections, modernization of EC-MCO linkages and systems, and compliance for franchise renewal.
NEA-EC Training Institute (NETI), headed by Director Nora I. Rivera, successfully organized the event with 93% of ECs in attendance.
