In a meeting with the local government and electric cooperative (EC) officials in Maguindanao last weekend, NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda announced the creation of three task forces that will address the metering issues of three ECs in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Administrator Almeda said that Task Force Metro 1 will resolve metering problems in Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MAGELCO) while Task Force Metro 2 will be in-charge in Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Task Force Metro 3 for Tawi-tawi Electric Cooperative, Inc. (TAWELCO).
During the meeting, he also shared the good news about the delivery schedule of electric meters pledged by Region VII and Region VIII ECs for MAGELCO.
"Initially, there will be a delivery next week of about 6,500 electric meters. Big thanks to the Region VIII and the Region VII electric cooperatives," the NEA Chief said.
MAGELCO will receive a total of 27,000 electric meters from the Federation of Rural Electric Cooperatives in Region VIII (FRECOR 8) and Central Visayas Electric Cooperatives Association (CEVECA). While 20,000 electric meters will be donated by Central Luzon Electric Cooperatives Association (CLECA), Batangas I and II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATELEC I and BATELEC II) to Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LASURECO).
Aside from the creation of task forces, the NEA will also review the contract of the outsourced meter readers of MAGELCO.
Administrator Almeda aims to improve the collection efficiency of MAGELCO and other BARMM ECs. He appealed to the member-consumer-owners (MCOs) to help their electric cooperative by paying their electric bill on time.
"Sana po gawin ninyo ang parte ng obligasyon ninyo dahil ang nagmamay-ari ng MAGELCO ay walang iba kundi kayo. Sana pag-uwi natin sa ating mga bahay, sabihan natin ang ating mga nanay at tatay, mga kapitbahay at kaibigan, magkakaroon na tayo ng metro, di na tayo masisingil nang hindi tama dahil lahat ng babayaran natin ay ayon sa talagang nakonsumo natin sa ating pamamahay," the Administrator told the MCOs during MAGELCO's Annual General Membership Assembly last Saturday.###
