KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The general membership of the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco), one of the biggest power cooperatives in Central Mindanao, has passed Resolution Number 01-2009, which adopted the result of the 2008 referendum on the issue of the coop's conversion, during the annual assembly at the Cotelco headquarters in Barangay Manubuan in Matalam, North Cotabato, over the weekend.

Results of the referendum in 2008 had affirmed the status quo of the cooperative, meaning, the coop will remain under the supervision of the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

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A total of 9,928 voters or 12 percent of the total members of the co-op participated during the plebiscite.

During the general assembly, members of the Electric Cooperative Conversion Movement (ECCM) and Education First Before Referendum Movement (E-DeferMo) had questioned the low turn-out of voters during last year's referendum, saying the number did not reflect the sentiments of the majority.

Kidapawan City Councilor Lauro Taynan, one of the conveners of ECCM, said the coop failed to inform majority of the members as regards the plebiscite.

Taynan filed a motion to disregard the results of the survey in 2008.
But after the house was divided, majority of those present during the assembly voted in favor of the inclusion. After which, a resolution that adopted the result of the referendum was passed.

A total of 5,130 members attended the assembly, records from the Cotelco showed.

When referendum results were adopted by the assembly, the co-op remains a non-stock and non-profit electric distribution facility, according to Felix Canja, executive assistant to Cotelco's general manager.

For 37 years, he said, it has provided efficient, reliable, affordable and adequate power supply to North Cotabato.

"Very recently, the Cotelco has bought from the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo) a sub-transmission. The sale has been approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) after a long delay," said Canja.

Sub-transmission refers to a transmission line typically rated at 69 kilovolts and facilities directly connected to distribution utilities.

The Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) mandates that sub-transmission assets will be operated and maintained by Transco until their disposal to financially and technically qualified distribution utilities.

"Today, the coop has its theme, "One Province, One Coop," when towns in North Cotabato's first district were added to the coop's service areas under Cotelco P-Palma, which includes towns of Pigcawayan, Libungan, Alamada, Aleosan, Midsayap, and Pikit, all in Cotabato's first district," Canja said. (MCM)