The National Electrification Administration (NEA) organized an inter-agency coordination meeting on the concerns of the Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Association of the Philippines (FICTAP) on the Standard Joint Pole Rental Agreement.
Based on NEA Memorandum No. 2018-055, the maximum pole rental rate is P420 per cable position per pole per annum. NEA Deputy Administrator for Technical Services Ernesto O. Silvano, Jr. presented to FICTAP the detailed computation of the pole rental rate which was formulated last 2018. FICTAP National Chair Estrellita Juliano-Tamano appealed to NEA to lower the said rental charge and have them consulted on the formulation of a new rate. In response, NEA Administrator Emmanuel P. Juaneza said that the agency will review immediately the said computation. A Technical Working Group will be formed and proper consultation with the stakeholders will also be conducted. In the meantime, the current rate will still be in place.
"The general direction that I'm looking at now is to have a proper engineering review in terms of depreciation of the poles of the electric cooperatives without compromising the investments of the ECs kasi kung wala naman ang poste ng electric coop, the other stakeholders would also not benefit. I-share ninyo sa amin ano 'yung mga points na nade-derive ninyo from outside that would also help us make a full assessment to come up with a price na good for coop and it's also good for your organization," Administrator Juaneza told FICTAP during the meeting.
Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA) Executive Director/General Manager Atty. Janeene Depay-Colingan, who represents the 121 ECs nationwide, expressed her support on the decision of the Administrator. FICTAP also welcomed the actions drafted and thanked the NEA Administrator for hearing their concerns.
The inter-agency coordination meeting was held last 29 September 2022 at the NEA office in Quezon City. It was attended as well by the officials of the Department of Energy (DOE), Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Philippine Association of Technical Managers of Electric Cooperatives (PHILATMEC).###
