NEA takes over troubled Palawan power cooperative

MANILA, Philippines — State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) has intervened in the management and operations of the beleaguered Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco) to help resolve the power supply woes that have continued to plague the province.

NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong issued an order last Dec. 10, designating Nelson Lalas as project supervisor/acting general manager of Paleco.

“ His designation, however, will cease upon the appointment of a regular general manager, which is subject to confirmation by the NEA, the order said.

Lalas is tasked to manage the day-to-day operations of Paleco to ensure the efficient delivery of electric service to the member-consumer-owners.

He is likewise mandated to approve or disapprove board resolutions in consultation with concerned departments in the state-run agency.

Apart from this, Lalas is authorized to sign/countersign checks, withdrawal slips, and other banking transactions, as well as perform other tasks that may be assigned for the purpose of operational efficiency.

The NEA intervention comes a month after President Duterte issued a stern warning to local officials to solve the energy issues in Palawan.

President Duterte gave Paleco until the end of the year to address the frequent brownouts or he would get a new electricity provider for Palawan if the problem persists.

Following Duterte’s warning, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi pressed on the moratorium for Paleco to improve the power situation on the island.

The Department of Energy (DOE), through a task force formed with NEA, plans to take over the operations of the beleaguered power coop if power woes are not solved by the end of the year.

Paleco is the lone power distributor of Puerto Princesa City and 18 municipalities, serving 137,277 consumers or 57 percent of the 240,700 potential connections as of June.

“Despite its status as an electric cooperative registered with the Cooperative Development Authority, NEA will not stand idly by. We will exercise the agency’s inherent jurisdiction over Paleco as it has the technical capability to turn things around in Palawan and for Palawan member-consumer-owners,” Masongsong said.

NEA has supervisory powers over 121 ECs nationwide as mandated under Republic Act 10531, otherwise known as the National Electrification Administration Reform Act of 2013.