OMECO as Punching Bag

His office absorbs all our criticisms and hatred especially during brownouts or power outage. But I will not blame the member-consumers for such reactions because not many of us, unlike those in a boxing gym, was able to realize that a punching bag is always attached to something over it. In the forthcoming issue of Kidlat-Tamaraw, the official newsletter of Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative or OMECO, Engr. Alfred A. Dantis has this to impart: “Inch by inch our untiring flesh will take us where development is; where the hearts of our people will walk us through, until we have tendered our rents to the Most Powerful Owner.”

Carrying the theme, “Ang Susi ng Pagbabago Tungo sa Kaunlaran : Matatag at Maayos na supply ng Kuryente, Mabuting Pamamahala at Lakas ng Kamay-Ari!”, OMECO’s 33rd Annual General Membership Assembly or AGMA was held in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro last Sunday, May 27, 2012. Two major issues were settled that would construct major amendments to the EC’s by-laws, specifically on these three areas: the collection of P75.00 membership fee from P 4.00 collected since 1974, the re-districting of District VII (Mamburao, Sta. Cruz and Abra de Ilog) areas (The election dates for each district and other little but relevant details skipped my memory but rest assured that I will keep you all posted.). Another highlight of the recently-concluded AGMA is the oath taking of 3 new and in-coming BOD members namely, Dir. Rodolfo A. Plopinio of Mamburao; Dir. Edelmar P. Ulay of Calintaan and Dir. Ma. Theresa R. Poblador of Sablayan. Two of the former directors, Myrna G. Magno of Magsaysay and Melito C. Pasol of Rizal, were re-elected and they likewise took their oath administered by Abra de Ilog Vice Mayor Floro Castillo. The outgoing directors, Chairman Samuel A. Villar, Vice Chairman Francisco T. Servando and Secretary Arsenio C. Samson were likewise acknowledged. I do not know why Poblador and Ulay did not show up for the event.

In OMECO Annual Report 2011 distributed in Abra AGMA, former chair Samuel A. Villar said; “Ang taong ito ay nagbabadya ng bagong pag-asa at pakikibaka sa mga hamon at katatagan ng ating kooperatiba. Bagong pag-asa dahil sa mahusay na pamunuan at sa napipintong pagsasakatuparan ng Competitive Selection Process (CSP) o ang pagbubukas ng pagkakataon sa mga gustong mamuhunan sa pagsusuplay ng enerhiya sa ating kooperatiba…” Villar is talking about the CSP formally launched in San Jose last January 18, this year and started through conference with potential bidders at Bayview Park Hotel in Manila on April 16, 2012. The previous year, 2011, also marked the framing and approval of Occidental Mindoro Power Supply Plan or the Energy Development Plan 2013-2043 drafted by the EDAG or the Energy Development Advisory Group composed of people coming from different sectors of society. Key EDAG members and Prof. Ronwaldo R. del Mundo of the National Electrical Engineering Center of the University of the Philippines (UP), OMECO’s transactional adviser laid all the schedules from invitation of potential bidders or new power provider (NPP) up to consequent issuance of Notice of Awards.

The CSP was launched by OMECO despite of the fact that there is still a case before a local RTC concerning the so-called “judicial determination” of the Energy Conversion Agreement (ECA) between Island Power Corporation (IPC) and OMECO filed early this year. As expected, IPC filed a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the CSP.

The legal speedball is still swinging so I’ll stop.

Looking from a distance, I think what OMECO needs, aside from those technical and financial accomplishments, is its membership information and development programs. Along this line, the creation of another office that would deal on social responsibility or community relations is imperative. An office that would also mind the everyday social needs of the member consumers. A bagful of humanitarian community service both material and financial. A bagful of charity and relief, empowerment and advocacy. A bag that is more contained with lights than shadows.

And who would dare to punch that bag?...