MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–With the existing concern of energy in the province brought about by the unpaid power bills of the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LASURECO) to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), the National Electrification Administration (NEA) has voiced out its call for cooperation among citizens to urge them to participate in the resolution of the crisis.
NEA Corporate Finance Services Chief Aljohn Calapatia stressed that the LASURECO cannot go through the problem without the entire province coming together as after all, this does not only affect the electric cooperative but every single citizen living herein.
“LASURECO alone cannot solve its problem. Kailangan talagang pagtulong-tulungan ng buong sambayanan ng probinsya ng Lanao del Sur, lalo na ng political leaders natin at iba’t ibang stakeholders sa gobyerno para matransform ang LASURECO, marehabiltate ang operasyon, at masustain ang power supply kasi at the end of the day, ang higit na makikinabang nito ay tayo ring mamamayan,” he said.
[LASURECO alone cannot solve its problem. The entire people of the province of Lanao del Sur really has to help each other, especially our political leaders and other stakeholders in the government, so that the LASURECO will transform, the operation will be rehabilitated, and the power supply will be rehabilitated because at the end of the day, the ones who will benefit these are just us, citizens.]
Earlier, Calapatia affirmed that LASURECO was one of the electric utilities that billed the cheapest electricity rate. This, accordingly, had a serious implication on their collection system which led to its ailment currently.
Calapatia underscored that the NEA, being a government-owned and controlled corporation that was mandated to support struggling electric cooperatives, has already extended the necessary assistance in the form of financial, operational, institutional, and technical.
He conveyed that while the national government has already responded to the LASURECO’s call of help, the public, on its part, now bears the responsibility to do their part as consumers of the supplied power.
“Lahat tayo dito ngayon ay sobrang laki ng roles na gagampanan natin kung papaano natin masusustain ang power supply sa probinsya. Alam naman natin kung gaano ka importante ang kuryente kasi iyan ang nagbibigay buhay sa lahat ng lugar… Sana tulungan niyo kami kasi sa mga nakaraang dekada, laging nagiging problema ng NEA ang outstanding debts ng LASURECO at lagi nating nadidiin ang LASURECO na ang problema ng LASURECO ay problema niya lamang,” said Calapatia.
[All of us here have a big role to play as to how we can sustain the power supply of the province. We all know how important electricity is because this gives life to all places… I hope you help us because, for many decades, the outstanding debts of LASURECO have become a problem of the NEA, and we have always pressed LASURECO as if only LASURECO owns the problem.]
As per the record, there are 121 electric cooperatives in the country and out of this figure, the NEA has classified at least eight ailing cooperatives, including the LASURECO, which needed to be assisted to continue to survive. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
Photo release:
During an energy summit led by the provincial government of Lanao del Sur, National Electrification Administration Corporate Finance Services Chief Aljohn Calapatia appeals for cooperation from the public to resolve the issue of energy in the province. (Jason Casas/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
