NEA clarifies role of consumers in policy-making (Sun.Star, Tuesday, October 23, 2007)

NEA clarifies role of consumers in policy-making
By Ian Ocampo Flora

GUAGUA – “The owners of this cooperative are none other than you - consumers of Pelco 2.”

These were the reassuring words of Pablo Pan III, deputy director of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), during the oath taking ceremonies of the Multi-sectoral Electrification Advisory Council (MSEAC) officers at Apung Dita’s restaurant in Guagua town recently.

These words ran contrary to earlier claims of Pelco 2 that ‘there are no owners, only member consumers” while reaffirming claims of the Consumer Alliance of Pelco2 that the consumers are the ‘owners of the cooperative’. However, the deputy director clarified that the MSEAC were not ‘patch up’ organizations to fill in the vacancies of the previously vacated positions of directors in the electrical districts of Santa Rita, Sasmuan and Porac. Nevertheless, Pan hailed the establishment of the councils as major landmarks in the history of the electric cooperative.

The MSEAC is composed of sectoral representations from ten sectors like media, business, agro-fisheries and civic organizations to name a few. The towns of Santa Rita, Sasmuan and Porac have already instituted their MSEAC officers with some sectors yet to be filled up. Each MSEAC shall elect officers and whose chairman shall sit with the Board of Directors of the coop with observer status.

“The MSEAC do not have the same powers as that of the board but they represent the sectors which the coop provides services to, but they have a big say in policy making and in the general relationship and understanding between the cooperative and the consumers,” Pan said.

However there was a concern raised by some members of the MSEAC officers that they were not yet oriented on their duties and responsibilities as well as the glaring lack of representation for the various sectors that should compose the MSEAC. However, Pan assured the officers that they would be oriented and that other vacant sectoral representation shall be accounted for.

The cooperative is aiming for the establishment of MSEAC organizations in the remaining four districts.

“I hope that this induction shall not come to waste because we have very high expectations with these MSEACs,” Pan said.