Naga Council creates committee on renewable energy development

NAGA CITY --- The city council here has formed a Renewable Energy Development Committee (REDC) to undertake studies and recommend actions on possible alternative sources of electricity for Naga as a result of the inefficient and unsatisfactory delivery of electric power services by the Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative II (CASURECO II) .

Hoping to take advantage of the Open Access provision in Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the Naga Sangguniang Panglunsod passed Resolution No. 2013-307 to establish the REDC that will be tasked to explore possibilities of harvesting and developing renewable sources of energy. The resolution was introduced by City Councilor Mila Raquid-Arroyo, a known advocate of the CASURECO II Consumers Group.

“The effectivity of the open access provision in the EPIRA has opened an opportunity for electric power consumers to explore and develop their own sources of energy in order that they will not be forever under the mercy of the inefficiencies of existing distribution utilities such as the CASURECO II,” Raquid-Arroyo said.

“[This] is not only for purposes of self-sufficiency but [will] also [open opportunities for Naga] as a possible electric power supplier to CASURECO II member-consumers,” she added.

The REDC will be headed by Councilor Joaquin Perez Jr. being the head of the SP Committee on Energy and will be co-chaired by Councilor Raquid-Arroyo as chairperson of the SP Committee on Public Utilities. Members of the REDC are the respective heads of City Planning Development Office, City Treasurer’s Office, City Budget Office, Solid Waste Management Office, Building Maintenance Office, City Engineering Office, and representatives from the Naga City People’s Council and the Liga ng mga Barangay.

It can be recalled that there is a present rift between the CASURECO II and the city government of Naga, especially on the alleged mismanagement and overstaying in power of the board directors of the power cooperative.

The city council earlier declared CASURECO II Eddie Adlao persona non granta for failure to attend a meeting with the CASURECO II Consumers Group and the city officials, while Mayor John G. Bongat called the Board of Directors “super kapal” (shameless) after seven of the BODs filed a case in court insisting for their right to a hold-over capacity even as the National Electrification Administration (NEA) already declared their seats vacant due to the failure of the district elections last August. - Paul John F. Barrosa