Leyte power co-op upbeat of first consumer summit outcome

PALO, Leyte, April 25 (PNA) – A key official of the Leyte II Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II), the power distributor in this regional capital and nearby towns, is optimistic of better policies for rural electricity distribution in the country after the first summit of electric consumers in Tagum City.

Leyeco II general manager Fernan Paul Tan said the national summit on Wednesday is expected to pass and approve certain resolutions that would further protect the rights of consumers.

“The gathering is a venue where concerns of member consumers and their rights will be highlighted," Fernan said in a mobile phone interview on Tuesday. 

Electric cooperatives (ECs) in Eastern Visayas started their two-day trip on Monday to join the first summit for 121 ECs in the region.

Among the issues that will be tackled is the national government’s assistance to ailing ECs, ensuring right of way for electric projects, privatization of ECs, conversion of ECs into government-owned and controlled corporation, funding of renewable energy projects, and amendments of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001, among others.

Tan said they are upbeat that their concerns will be addressed through better policies with the presence of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and other key officials in the first gathering of all ECs in the country.

ECs are entities owned by the end-users within the vicinity covered by the power cooperative. They are controlled by board of directors elected by the end-users. There are 121 cooperatives in the country recognized by the Energy Regulatory Commision.

Eastern Visayas has 11 ECs – six in Leyte province, two in Samar, and one each in Biliran, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar. These ECs have combined connections of 794,386 consumers.

The event organized by the National Center of Electric Cooperative Consumers will gather around 5,000 delegates from different parts of the country.

The activity is aimed at finding solutions to address the urgent and strategic issues confronting electricity consumers. (Lizbeth Ann A. Abella/PNA)