Rep. Erwin Tulfo wants floundering electric coops stripped of franchise
HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo has initiated moves to strip electric cooperatives of their franchises if they fail to ensure reliable and affordable power supply to their customers.
A report from the House of Representatives on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, showed that Rep. Tulfo of ACT-CIS Partylist filed House Resolution 1302 seeking the cancellation of franchises of floundering electric cooperatives.
Four other lawmakers co-sponsored the resolution: ACT-CIS party-list Representatives Jocelyn Tulfo, and Edvic Yap, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo.
Tulfo said, "electric cooperatives were granted franchises with the expectation that they will ensure a stable supply of electricity to their respective areas."
The move came following the failure of Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Nordeco) to deliver on its pledge to normalize power supply by June 1, 2023. The pledge was made last May during a Senate committee hearing presided by Senator Raffy Tulfo.
Until this third week of September, Nordeco's customers in Samal Island City, Tagum City, and other parts of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro continue to suffer from daily brownouts.
Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib, businessmen, and various consumer groups have warned of economic paralysis because of the continuing brownouts.
“The dismal performance of these electric cooperatives underscores the need to explore alternatives, such as the establishment of new electric cooperatives or other models for the provision of electricity in parts of the country severely affected by intermittent power supply, to address the long-standing issues that have plagued the public for years,” read Resolution 1302.
Earlier, PBA Partylist Rep. Migs Nograles initiated House Bill 6740, seeking to reduce the existing franchise of Nordeco and allow the Davao Light Power Company (DLPC) to service the growth areas of Davao del Norte. House Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos co-authored the bill.
Camiguin Lone District Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Davao del Sur Lone District Rep. John Tracy Cagas, Davao del Norte District 2 Rep. Alan Dujali and Davao de Oro District 1 Rep. Maricar Zamora-Apsay also authored their own but similar versions of the bill.
“Panahon na upang silipin natin ang pangit na serbisyo ng ilang mga power companies na ito sa pamamagitan ng pag-rebyu ng mga prangkisa nila, pagkansela kung kinakailangan, at pagpasok ng mga bagong power players sa lugar (It’s about time to look into the bad services of some power companies by reviewing their franchise, cancelling them if needed, and to accept new players in the power industry in the area),” Rep. Tulfo said in filing HR 1302.
“Maraming mga electric cooperatives ngayon na gusto at handang magbigay ng kuryente sa lugar na panay ang brownout pero hindi nabibigyan ng pagkakataon dahil sa mga existing franchise ng mga walang kakwenta-kwentang nabanggit na power companies,” he added. PR