Rodriguez leads consultation on Casureco III’s franchise renewal
BUSINESS leader Ronald “Bong” Rodriguez and Representative Nelson Legacion of the 3rd district of the province of Camarines Sur, who is the principal author of the proposed renewal of Casureco III’s operational franchise, led a consultation in Buhi, Camarines Sur, concerning the renewal of the electric cooperative’s franchise and the issue involving Bicol Light Power Corp., which reportedly wants to enter the Rinconada area.
The two personalities from Camarines Sur were invited by incumbent and former officials of Buhi to provide advice and clarification on the situation surrounding the proposed renewal of CASURECO III’s operational franchise, as well as the controversial move by Bicol Light Power Corp. to supply electricity to the Rinconada area.
Present during the gathering were Vice Mayor Christian Echepari, former Mayor Margie Moran Aguinillo, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, former municipal officials and numerous barangay officials of Buhi.
In his message, Rodriguez reminded the attendees, particularly CASURECO III member-consumers, to remain vigilant and carefully assess developments surrounding the cooperative and the proposed entry of another power provider into the area.
According to Rodriguez, CASURECO III experienced serious difficulties from 2011 to 2016, when its operations were allegedly affected by political interference and widespread non-payment of electricity bills by some consumers. These contributed to the cooperative's mounting debts, financial problems and eventual classification as a distressed electric cooperative.
Because electricity distribution is a public utility subject to government regulation, the National Electrification Administration (NEA) took over the cooperative's operations in 2017 and continues to oversee its management.
Rodriguez said the NEA intervention helped CASURECO III recover, settle a substantial portion of its debts and put its operations back on track.
He said consumers should now be more cautious with the entry of private corporations claiming that they can supply electricity to the Rinconada area.
Rodriguez warned consumers against being swayed by attractive promises, particularly when these are made by politicians or individuals whose companies have yet to demonstrate their capacity to operate a public utility.
He also urged the public to remain vigilant about private corporations reportedly linked to politicians that seek to enter the public utilities sector.
Rodriguez further maintained that public utilities such as water and electricity should remain responsive to and ultimately serve the interests of the consumers, with government support when necessary.
Meanwhile, political observers have raised questions over the apparent lack of action from the incumbent representative of the Rinconada congressional district on the CASURECO III franchise issue.
They questioned why it took a representative from another congressional district in Camarines Sur, Congressman Nelson Legacion, to file the proposed renewal of CASURECO III’s operational franchise in the House of Representatives.
The observers noted that, given that CASURECO III primarily serves the Rinconada area, the issue would ordinarily be expected to receive active attention from the area's own congressional representative.
The remarks, however, were raised as questions by the political observers and would need to be addressed by the incumbent Rinconada representative to clarify the reasons behind the apparent lack of legislative action on the matter.
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