MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Aug 10 (PIA) --- The government has created a special task force to oversee the management of the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (LASURECO).
Secretary Jericho Petilla of the Department of Energy (DOE) said the Task Force LASURECO was organized based on Memorandum Circular No. 65 issued by the Office of the President creating an inter-agency committee (IAC) to oversee electrification programs and projects involving distribution utilities in the country.
The task force, chaired by Energy Assistant Secretary Matanog Mapandi with 103rd Brigade Commander Col. Glen Macasero and Police Chief Supt. Edgardo Inking as co-chairs, will take over the management of LASURECO to solve the power problem in the province.
Petilla said the power problem in Lanao del Sur has been lingering for so many years already and the government have not forgotten it. “It may have taken some time, but we want to come here with a solution for all of you,” he said during the task force meeting with local chief executives and other stakeholders in the province Thursday, August 7.
He said the government is neutral in solving the power problem in Lanao. “We are not trying to undermine anyone here. We are not trying to undermine LASURECO and we are not also trying to undermine the local government units. Kung merun man pong problema ang dalawa, ang pagpasok namin dito ay hindi papanig sa isang side kundi dahil gusto namin ng solusyon,” stressed Petilla.
The energy secretary said the task force will focus on manpower and materials acquisition from August 8 to 21 and implement metering from August 22 to November 30.
According to him, the President has committed P69 million for the metering in every household with existing lines provided they have applied for it.
They also plan to stabilize meter reading and bill system starting December to January next year and to finally normalize LASURECO by February 2015 through member-consumers’ election of board of directors who will elect among themselves the coop’s general manager.
Petilla however clarified that the move does not mean that the P8 billion debts of LASURECO will be wiped-out. (Johaniah N. Yusoph/APB/PIA-10)
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