Robredo: Privatization of electric co-ops will deprive rural areas of electricity

Vice President and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo said Thursday that privatizing electric cooperatives would deny electricity access to rural and far flung areas. 

Robredo made the position during her meeting with the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association in Pampanga.

"Electric cooperatives are the biggest vehicle for the stakeholders to be heard. It is the consumers who own these cooperatives. Ako ‘yung advocate na hindi dapat ito profit-oriented. Kasi kapag naging profit-oriented ito, pag ginawa natin na ang primary motivation ay negosyo, kawawa ‘yung Rural Electrification Program natin," Robredo said.

(Electric cooperatives should not be after profit. Otherwise, it will just be about business, and our rural electrification program will suffer.)

"Kasi kapag nag-cost-benefit na tayo, hindi na tayo pupunta sa pinakamalalayo kasi lugi na tayo," Robredo added.

(If we resort to cost-benefit, we won't go to far-flung areas because that would mean losses [for business].)

 Robredo added that electric cooperatives need government support since they constantly face challenges such as lack of resources, leading to efforts of private firms easing them out via takeover.

"We are yet to maximize the abilities available to us. Electric cooperatives are still marginalized in a lot of places. This is happening in Baguio, Bacolod, in Negros. We have three party-list representatives of the industry [electric cooperatives] in Congress now, and they need all the help they can get to increase their level of influence, not because of power but for their concerns to be heard," Robredo pointed out.

"Yes, electric cooperatives have challenges and problems, but usually problems arise from circumstances beyond their control. We know that. The solution is not to privatize. The solution is to help them become resilient from these threats," Robredo added.

Robredo said the franchises to operate granted to electric cooperatives should be extended to help them improve their standing.

"The franchise is the anchor. If you give them that, they will be able to fix their ranks. Otherwise, they will always fear that their franchise is in limbo," Robredo said.

"Extending a franchise should not be for the sake of extension and being complacent. This is a very important step to take because a lot of people depend on electric cooperatives," she added. — BM, GMA News