Several electric cooperatives (ECs) heeded the call of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda to help save ailing electric cooperatives in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

A total of 47,000 electric meters with an estimated value of Php47 Million will be donated by some ECs in Luzon and Visayas to Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LASURECO) and Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MAGELCO).

In a forum with Administrator Almeda on Wednesday, 04 January 2023, BATELEC I General Manager Engr. Alvin O. Velasco and BATELEC II General Manager Engr. Octavious M. Mendoza together with their respective Board of Directors declared their commitment to helping LASURECO in improving its collection efficiency.

The two electric cooperatives will be donating a total of 10,000 electric meters to LASURECO. The Central Luzon Electric Cooperatives Association (CLECA) headed by President Reynaldo V. Villanueva also pledged 10,000 meters for LASURECO.

Before the said forum, the NEA Chief had a meeting with LASURECO General Manager Nordjiana Lucman Dipatuan-Ducol. They discussed various strategies on how to save the operation of the coop and improve its service to the member-consumer-owners.

On the other hand, MAGELCO will receive a total of 27,000 electric meters from Federation of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Region VIII (FRECOR 8) and Central Visayas Electric Cooperatives Association (CEVECA). FRECOR 8 President Joselito P. Yap said last December that the Region VIII ECs will be giving 15,000 meters to MAGELCO while CEVECA through their President Virgilio C. Fortich, Jr. pledged 12,000 electric meters to the said coop.

Administrator Almeda expressed his gratitude to the ECs and lauded their generosity in helping out MAGELCO and LASURECO as part of their corporate social responsibility.