For keeping the lights on in the countryside amid the increasing challenges of our times, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) honored on Saturday (31 August 2024) multiple electric cooperatives (ECs) across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao at the 2024 Lumens Awards.
This year, the NEA presented the Best Region Award to three administrative groups namely Calabarzon, Central Visayas, and Caraga for ensuring that all their ECs sustained the delivery of top-notch power distribution services to their member-consumer-owners.
The ECs in Calabarzon include First Laguna Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FLECO), Batangas I and II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATELEC I and II), and Quezon I and II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (QUEZELCO I and II).
Central Visayas is comprised of ECs in Negros Oriental (NORECO I and II), Cebu (CEBECO I, II and III), Bantayan and Camotes Islands also in Cebu (BANELCO and CELCO), Siquijor (PROSIELCO), and Bohol (BOHECO I and II).
Caraga, which represents Mindanao, is made up of ECs in Agusan del Norte (ANECO), Agusan del Sur (ASELCO), Surigao del Norte (SURNECO), Siargao Island (SIARELCO), Dinagat Islands (DIELCO), and Surigao del Sur (SURSECO I and II).
Of the said ECs, CEBECO I—based in Dumanjug, Cebu—took home the ‘Best Electric Cooperative Award.’ The NEA selected this power co-op for “maintaining a perfect score” and an “AAA rating” for five consecutive years.
Consequently, CEBECO I general manager Engr. Getulio Crodua earned the 2024 Lumens Award for ‘Best General Manager.’ At least 31 power-coops received the ‘Outstanding EC Awards’ and a total of 77 ECs, meanwhile, accepted the ‘Top Performing EC Awards.’
Eight ECs were also acknowledged for making significant improvements in their services including those in Ilocos Norte (INEC), Central Pangasinan (CENPELCO), Benguet (BENECO), Ifugao (IFELCO), Kalinga (KAELCO), Albay (ALECO), Misamis Occidental (MOELCI I) and Davao del Norte (NORDECO).
KAELCO bagged the ‘Most Improved EC Award’ for its remarkable transformation. It was previously rated as ‘B’ but recently achieved an ‘AA’ rating based on its latest overall performance assessment.
The Pangasinan III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (PANELCO III), Cagayan I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CAGELCO I), and Leyte III Electric Cooperative (LEYECO III) obtained ‘Household Electrification Champion Awards’ while QUEZELCO II received the NEA Compliance Award.
Power co-ops that received major awards this year were chosen based on the latest overall performance assessment the NEA conducted. Their track record, consumer connections, and implementation of state-funded electrification programs also factored in the selection process.
Special awards and citations were also conferred on notable ECs that delivered advance loan amortization payment, achieved highest amortization rate, reported fully liquidated subsidy funds, made remarkable corporate and community programs, addressed the least number of consumer complaints, received ISO certifications, and recorded high attendance in their respective annual general membership assemblies.
The NEA also acknowledged all community-owned distribution utilities that have the best collection efficiency, sustained single-digit feeder losses, made great strides in adopting renewable energy initiatives, and consistently placed themselves in the ‘Green’ classification.
The state-owned corporation also revived the Sinag Awards to acknowledge the ECs that registered 100 percent energization, made remarkable contributions to the total electrification drive, leveled up their size classification, and exerted greater efforts to electrify unserved households in 2023.
The 2024 Lumens Awards ceremony coincided with the 2024 Awards from the Wires organized by the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA), which culminated the three-day 55th Founding Anniversary celebration of the NEA and the 2024 NEA-EC Convergence. ###
