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| The Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur spearheads an Energy Summit to discuss ways forward to address the electricity crisis in the province. (Jason C. Casac/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur) |
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur is ramping up its effort to deal with the electricity crisis in the province.
The provincial government initiated Tuesday, July 19, an Energy Summit to seek recommendations from power stakeholders and consumers in the province to come up with a permanent and sustainable solution to address the ballooning debt of Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (LASURECO).
The summit was participated by mayors, vice-mayors, Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) presidents, heads and representatives of line agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and department heads of the Provincial Government.
A week before the summit, the provincial government conducted a pre-conference with local chief executives and CSOs.
Provincial Governor Mamintal "Bombit" Alonto-Adiong Jr. said the agreements during the pre-summit were the installation of electric meters which will be piloted in the municipality of Kapai while those municipalities with installed meters like in Saguiaran should be activated and enforced by LASURECO and the local government unit concerned.
The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) has earlier demanded LASURECO to settle its debt or it would be cut off from electricity supply service.
Although the ailing electric co-op obtained a temporary restraining order, such was only effective for three days. The provincial government intervened and requested an emergency meeting with PSALM and asked for an extension of three months to lay the foundation for a permanent solution to the problem.
"Ang pagdisconnect ng LASURECO ay magreresulta ng maraming problema—mula COVID-19 response, seguridad, pag aaral ng mga studyante, government operations, at halos lahat ng trabaho, gawain, at pangangailangan ng day to day ng isang Meranao," Adiong emphasized.
[Disconnecting LASURECO will result in many problems — from COVID-19 response, security, student learning, government operations, and almost all of the day-to-day work, activities, and needs of a Meranao.]
The governor cited this as the reason why the provincial government is on the front line in resolving the electricity issue.
As of June 2022, LASURECO has unpaid power purchases from PSALM amounting to P13 billion. Ii is servicing 1,181 barangays in 37 municipalities of Lanao del Sur and the municipalities of Pantar, Baloi, and Pantao-Ragat in Lanao del Norte province. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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