TAGUIG CITY - Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi assures electric cooperatives (ECs) of the objectivity of their performance review, which seeks to identify the problems besetting troubled cooperatives. 

"There will be due process for all ECs. Our priority is to address the root causes of their problems and help in their rehabilitation so they may provide the quality of services consumers in their franchise areas truly deserve," he emphasized. 

Sec. Cusi warned, however, that for those extremely dire cases, the government could no longer ignore the negative impact on citizens. Other reasonable and legal options, as provided in Republic Act 10531 or the National Electrification Administration Law must be considered. 

There are 17 ECs that have been chronically failing to provide satisfactory services required by their electric distribution franchise. Said ECs are DANECO (Davao del Norte), ALECO (Albay), BASELCO (Basilan), CASURECO III (Camarines Sur), FICELCO (Catanduanes), LASURECO (Lanao), MASELCO (Masbate), OMECO (Occidental Mindoro), ORMECO (Oriental Mindoro) , PALECO (Palawan), PELCO III (Pampanga), SULECO (Sulu), and ZAMCELCO (Zamboanga). 

For many years, residents of these areas have been complaining of persistent and unresolved brownouts caused by some ECs' heavy debts and failure to pay for their power supply. 

It may be recalled that even President Duterte himself publicly expressed his dissatisfaction over the poor electric services in Palawan and Masbate. 

"We trust that ECs in these problem areas will cooperate with the DOE's constructive efforts to get to the heart of their long running problems. We will work with the ECs in creating and implementing viable solutions for the benefit of their consumers," Sec. Cusi concluded.

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