DOE chief calls on agencies to reach out to power coops

CEBU, Philippines - The National Power Corp., National Electrification Administration and all other agencies under the Department of Energy are urged to address the issues and concerns of electric cooperatives.

This was the directive from Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

A DOE statement yesterday quoted Cusi as saying that the NEA and NAPOCOR should approach the coops and not the other way around.

Among the concerns raised by rural electric cooperatives are: right-of-way for the delivery of electricity; tax reforms to address consumer concerns; and a well-defined authority of electric coops in relation to the right-of-way clearing.

Other concerns are that the DOE, with other government agencies, should put up a one-stop shop for the processing and issuance of permits and licenses of energy projects; and a clear policy to streamline the allocation and availment processes of government financial aid for disaster-damaged facilities of electric coops.

Cusi also urged the conduct of vulnerability assessment to identify areas highly prone to disasters to lessen the effects of calamity.

"Organize yourselves for emergency response, submit our individual disaster preparedness courses of action so we will know how to deal what to do when your area is affected," he told electric coops. (FREEMAN)