The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc., which groups the country’s 119 electric cooperatives, presented its “wish list” to the incoming administration.
Philreca said the ECs were trying to resolve a number of issues and concerns surrounding the rural electrification sector and expressed hope they would be addressed by the Marcos administration.
The group urged the new government to protect the existence of ECs and the legacy of rural electrification by ensuring the renewal of the franchise of ECs and protecting them from takeover threats.
“The real power—economic, political and social—should reside in the people, in as many people as possible. This is the essence of democracy. We should do everything within our power to ensure that the power of the electric cooperatives will remain with the people as such as possible,” the group said.
Philreca said the government should address the non-payment or delays in payment to ECs on pole relocation projects, delays in resolution of cases and rate applications at the Energy Regulatory Commission, resolve the non-payment of electric bills by government agencies and provide for exemption to real and property taxes for all electric cooperatives.