DOE Statement to Mindanao Power Sector

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Official Statement of Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Benito Ranque to Mindanao Power Sector

Will the Duterte Administration Succeed in Lighting Up Lanao Where Four Presidents Ailed?

It has been the long battle for Lanao to get its rightful share of electricity even as it hosts the highly coveted Agus hydroelectric power plants. Will there be light provided by a new leadership of the most contested LASURECO or Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative?

Task Force Lasureco (TFL) was organized under Executive Order issued in August 2014 that mandated the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to implement the rehabilitation measures of the electric cooperative, enhance management and operations to improve revenues.

The Task Force is responsible for installing kwh meters in households of all member-consumers within the franchise area, developing and cleansing the membership data base, and normalizing reading and billing operations apart from conducting the General Assembly and Election of the Board of Directors.

The Task Force is now chaired by Department Energy Undersecretary Benito Ranque.

During a Lanao local governments special meeting held last December 8 called by Vice Governor Mamintal Bombit Adiong Jr. a week after the ARMM LGU Summit was attended by President Rodrigo Duterte, DOE Usec Ben Ranque expressed that he will focus on getting the national government to support the electrification of Lanao del Sur,

"When there is no light, there is no water as well," said Ranque who hails from Medina, Misamis Oriental, was appointed as General Manager

Former National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Commissioner Solaiman Mutia will be his Assistant General Manager. Ranque is a Public Management graduate of Bukidnon State University.

Management concerns and recommendations for the electric management were the focus of the Mayors' meeting presided by Vice Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. with new General Manager, DOE Undersecretary Ranque and Lanao del Sur Second District Rep. Mauyag Papandayan whose district covers the long unlighted coastal areas of Malabang and nearby towns.

Meter reading, flooding, transmission post repairs were the concerns raised by the Mayors as Vice Governor Adiong acknowledged LASURECO's “perennial” problems to have been long-standing since 1981 and the pre-Task Force administration.

With co-vice chairpersons Mayors Sumandar of Piagapo and Mayor Allan Lao of Lumbatan to be recommended to the NEA, Ranque urged the Mayors to assist in the LASURECO management.

Outgoing GM Solaiman Mutia reported the TFL accomplishments, such as the decreased transmission charges from 11 million pesos to 1 million after tapping the distant Abaga plant to Agus 1, the metering of 36,000 households, renewed relations with LGUs and stakeholders, the lighting up of Lumbayanague, Lumbatan and the partial electrification of Bayang, Tubaran and Second District towns.

Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra’s representative, Administrator Sultan Camid Gandamra sought the approval of their longstanding request to have NPC funds offset payments of electricity debts of the province. Marawi City is the majority consumer.

Ranque reported there would be rehabilitation funds coming from the electrification budget to finally address the needs of the long unlighted coastal municipalities.

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