7 mayors lead rally vs Zambales coop

By. Jonas Reyes – Manila Bulletin

Castillejos, Zambales – At lest seven mayors of Zambales led the other day thousands of residents in a rally to demand the ouster of officials of an electric power cooperative who have been occupying their positions for the last 24 years.

San Marcelino Mayor Jose Rodriguez, president of the Zambales Mayors League, said that they have sought the help of officials of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to cause the ouster of the members of the board of directors of the Zambales Electric Cooperative II (Zameco II).

Rodriguez said that they staged the rally after the residents complained that Zameco II had allegedly overcharged them for their electricity consumption.
He said that Zameco II has entered into what he called an “illegal contract” for P1million with the Philippine Power Distribution Investment Corp. (PPDIC)

He said that the “management service contract” was not disclosed to the consumers and was not approved by NEA.

Rodriguez also said that the company has not conducted any consultation meeting with the residents and town officials regarding the matter.

The company, Rodriguez claimed, has not been transparent in its transactions, stating that if the company is registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), it would not pay taxes.

Rodriguez said that the registration of the company with the CDA would prevent the officials from doling out “patronage fund.”

A legal opinion of the Government Corporate Counsel stated that Zameco’s bid to register itself with CDA would violate the EPIRA law.