Malones brokers talks between key players of Iloilo's electric cooperatives
What is more beneficial for the Ilonggo public – continued registration of electric cooperatives with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) or transfer to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA)?
The answer is yet to be known yet the sentiments made clearer as key players in Iloilo's electric cooperative industry gathered in the Capitol yesterday.
Initiated by Third District Board Member Mariano Malones, the discussions formed part of the committee hearing that heard extensive sentiments of proponents and opponents alike.
Tasked to do the job is the Committee on Cooperatives and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) chaired by Malones.
Iloilo consumers are under three electric cooperatives namely Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO) I, ILECO II and ILECO III. ILECO I has the biggest in member-consumers placed at over 92,000 coming from all seven Southern Iloilo towns and eight others from Central part of the province.
All electric cooperatives in Iloilo are currently under the NEA.
Lawyer Salvador Cabaluna II, ILECO I President of the Board relayed his group's non-committal position at the moment. Yet he assured the committee that whatever decision will be reached in the future "is one with reason and logic."
Pressed for further comment, Cabaluna told The News Today (TNT) that he is personally amenable to a referendum with all member-consumers prior to any "executive decisions." The referendum was the position made by Board Member Cecilia Colada who already expressed her objection to CDA registration now.
At the moment, Cabaluna shared, cooperative- membership with NEA enjoys a significant government subsidy and loan condonation.
A need to evaluate the status of cooperatives under the CDA is also needed, lawyer Dennis Ventilacion said. Such, he stressed, will present the picture on what benefits are enjoyed as compared to maintaining affiliation with the NEA.
TNT learned that CDA has one member-cooperative in Western Visayas while a total of 18 are registered here all over the Philippines.
The hearing for the most part heard views of lawyers representing both groups.
Former Iloilo Vice Governor and now ILECO I Director Robert "Bob" Maroma was among the CDA movers.
"It is about time the consumers fully avail of the benefits. It is about time the government help make it a real cooperative," Maroma told committee members.
Similar sentiments albeit more 'passionate' from another resource person who said "no need to be legalistic… let us just use common sense and register with the CDA!"
The man's comments were met with 'jeers' from cooperative employees seated in the gallery of the Capitol session hall, venue of the committee hearing.
Another lawyer, Eduardo Jalbuna took note that "cost benefit analysis" of CDA membership will mean the retention of benefits currently enjoyed with NEA affiliation.
In the end of the exchanges though, Vice Governor Rolex Suplico stressed that the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) can only issue a Resolution with no powers to compel the cooperatives to do either way.
Malones when asked for a timeframe said he is optimistic of a result early next month.
Other board members present were Jett Rojas of the Fifth District, June Mondejar of the Second District, Cecilia Colada, ex-officio member and President of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) and Guisseppe Karl Gumban, ex-officio member and President of the Iloilo Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).