Mindoro power co-op vows to stay with NEA

The Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative (Ormeco) in Calapan City, one of the best performing among the 119 electric cooperatives in the country, will keep its 40-year registration with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) as it thwarted attempts by some local businessmen to transfer registration of the cooperative for unknown reasons to the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

In a statement, Romeo Cuasay, Ormeco general manager, said “we believe it is to the best interest of our member-consumers to stay with the NEA.”

“We have been able to strengthen our electric cooperative and have significantly improved services and performance because of the comprehensive support system of the NEA,” said Cuasay in the statement.

Cuasay said the continuing Ormeco-NEA partnership has resulted in significant gains in the delivery of electricity to consumers. He said in the expanded sitio electrification program of President Aquino, Ormeco was able last year to electrify 274 sitios and received a presidential commendation for the achievement.

Cuasay said Ormeco has been able to achieve this despite the adverse weather condition and the regulatory challenges of power supply in the island of Mindoro.

The NEA provides administrative, financial and performance monitoring, institutional development and technical and financial assistance to electric cooperatives under Presidential Decree No. 269.

Cuasay said that one of the most important reasons Ormeco is staying with NEA is the need for administrative supervision.

In recent months, Cuasay said “there was a threat posed by a group of local businessmen who have been agitating to convert Ormeco into a CDA-registered electric cooperative for reasons that only they know.”

“It is unfortunate that the group has resorted to clandestine methods and deception to force their agenda on the duly elected board of directors to unduly alter Ormeco’s legal registration with the NEA,” Cuasay said.

As a result, Ormeco filed in October 2012 a criminal complaint of falsification of documents and estafa against the perpetrators, Cuasay said.

“We see no reason why Ormeco should get out of its registration with NEA,” Cuasay said.