Once in awhile, we are recipients of pleasant news that refreshes our faith, renews our optimism and lifts our spirits to the hope that our often beleaguered government system will be capable of accomplishing something beneficial to our countrymen.
I am talking about the country’s rural electrification program, which for the longest period of time had cultivated an image of electric cooperatives that were inept and corrupt, and prone to mismanagement and susceptible to political meddling.
Although there are still electric cooperatives that continue to carry these rogue attributes, plus the fact that many still are unable to deliver competitively priced electricity to their customers, the program that was started almost 40 years ago with a mission to bring electricity to 100 percent of the rural countryside is almost a reality.
After a survey was bared in 1969 that tallied just a pitiful 5.8 percent of rural homes as having access to electricity, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) was created with a mandate to complete full electrification of the countryside.
Today, the country stands proud with 95 percent of barangays already energized. NEA and its 119 electric cooperatives are working hard to reach the less than 2,000 remaining barangays, most of which are in isolated localities of the country, and install that first electricity pole.
In one of my segments of “Pag-usapan Natin” at IBC-13 (Monday to Friday, 10:30 p.m. News Tonite), we tackled the problems that the rural electrification program continues to face in its goal of reaching all households in the country. Currently, only about 66 percent of homes in rural areas have access to electricity.
NEA’s comments
We received a letter from NEA, parts of which I am reprinting. This should give our readers a better appreciation of the progress that the rural electrification program has made over the last 38 years.
According to NEA, “there are 145 electric distribution utilities of which 119 are electric cooperatives. Energization by all utilities is presently down to the level of barangays and sitios since all municipalities and cities have been energized.
“In a span of 38 years, electric cooperatives made electricity available to all parts of the country. This has significant social and economic impact to the small residential consumers who are the main beneficiaries of rural electrification.
“For one, the provision of electricity leads to migration and branching out of businesses and industries, resulting in the creation of more jobs, and a consequent rise in family income levels.
“To date, about 18,000 industries are being served by the 119 electric cooperatives. In addition, electrification of schools and house lead to increased literacy and productivity levels. Also, it promotes tourism and brings out an increase in access to communications and modern technology.
“Electric cooperatives are private, non-stock and non-profit entities with an elected board of directors and professional management. Their missionary nature distinguishes them from private investor-owned utilities which will not venture into purely residential areas.
“Industrial and commercial consumers of electric cooperatives cannot as yet compare to those of private investor-owned utilities. Their tariffs only allow cost recovery, and are regulated by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
Performing well
“Electric cooperatives may not all be perfect but they have served their purpose. Many of them are performing well, if not better than other private investor-owned utilities.
“These are, to name some, the three electric cooperatives in Cebu (Cebeco I, II, and III), two in Bohol (Boheco I and II), one in Bataan (Penelco), Iloilo (Ileco I), and Misamis Oriental (Moresco I).
“With the implementation of the EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act), the electric cooperatives must prepare to be globally competitive and meet the requirements of this new environment.
“But they need government support, which they rightly so deserve, especially though the National Electrification Administration, given the important role they have played through the years.
Where others don’t dare
“For the last 38 years of the Rural Electrification Program, electric cooperatives have energized almost eight million households, thus benefiting about 45 million Filipinos living in the rural areas where no private and profit-oriented electric distribution utilities dare venture to electrify, especially in far-flung communities.
“The electric cooperatives have electrified more municipalities, barangays and sitios in the remotest areas of the Philippine archipelago as compared to profit-driven electric utilities.
“Missionary electrification has first been lived by the electric cooperatives before other private entities started practicing their corporate social responsibility.
“Electric cooperatives have also exemplified the bayanihan spirit as demonstrated by the Task Force Kapatid, another NEA-EC partnership that has proven effective especially during typhoons.
“Task Force Kapatid readily addresses the rehabilitation needs of typhoon-devastated electric cooperatives, where volunteers are pooled together to help in the power restoration activities of the affected electric cooperatives.
“The volunteer electric cooperatives render their free services only during times of calamities but also whenever there is a need for a Task Force Kapatid deployment in any electric cooperative coverage areas. This helps fast-track restoration activities and the upgrading of distribution lines of the electric cooperative beneficiary.
“Another means of solidarity which the electric cooperatives live by is the Big Brother – Small Brother Compact of Cooperation, wherein outstanding performing ECs help the poor performing ones onwards to operation turnaround and recovery.”
Admittedly, a lot has been done during the past 38 years. Let’s just hope that it won’t take another four decades before the goal of electrification for all is achieved.
‘Pag-usapan Natin’ recalls 2007 at IBC-TV 13
Watch “Pag-usapan Natin,” a segment of the IBC-TV 13 news program News Tonite, from 10:30 pm to 11 pm (Mondays to Fridays) as we discuss the significant political and economic issues that have relevance to our everyday living. Viewers may send their comments to Sunshine Television c/o Valle Verde Country Club, Pasig City.
Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com.