NEA chief prods power cooperatives to be more aggressive

MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) has urged electric cooperatives (ECs) to be more aggressive and innovative in a bid to be globally competitive.

“The challenge remains: to bring the ECs into the global sphere of empowerment in facing the challenges in the industry and maximizing opportunities through teamwork, unity and cooperation,” NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong said at the joint convention of the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Inc. (Philreca) and the Philippine Federation of Electric Cooperatives (Philfeco) held Thursday at SM City General Santos Trade Hall.

“At the NEA, we call on you, our partners in the rural electrification, to be ever aggressive in the aim of being globally competitive electric cooperatives and endeavor all the more to be operationally viable, efficient and effective distribution utilities to be able to render the maximum benefit and quality service to our member-consumer-owners,” he said.

Masongsong stressed the importance of collective strength in overcoming challenges as well as preserving the gains of rural electrification.

“Unity is strength, disunity is weakness. The way to a successful endeavor is to gather together in unity. The way to thwart challenges is to confront it with a unified action.”

He said the Philreca-Philfeco joint convention was an opportune time for the ECs to introduce ideas and strategies that will be beneficial to their respective communities.

“Ours has been quite a journey. We installed the lines of progress and spun the engine of growth by bringing electricity to the industries, communities and households; and, worked together to power and empower the rural communities with the provision of access to safe, reliable and affordable electricity,” he said.

At present, the NEA and its partner ECs have energized 12.447 million households nationwide.