Providing efficient power supply to avert more blackouts in Palawan is the main priority of the newly-installed acting general manager of Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO).
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) appointed Engr. Nelson A. Lalas to the position on January 7, 2019, after PALECO submitted a position paper to NEA that expressed its respect to the right of the government agency to designate one under the Republic Act 10531 or “National Electrification Administration Reform Act of 2013.”
The acting general manager is in charge of the day-to-day operations of PALECO to guarantee the effective delivery of electric service to the member-consumer-owners. He can also approve or disapprove board resolutions and make major decisions not included in the routine operations such as hiring employees, signing of checks, withdrawal slips and other banking transactions. The designation is also implemented to help resolve the issue of continuous blackouts experienced in Palawan.
According to Napoleon Cortes, PALECO HRDM Manager and outgoing Officer-in-Charge (OIC), the AGM can help in the technical operation of PALECO. “May mga major decisions na pending dahil OIC lang ako. Ang Acting General Manager makakapag-decide siya. Marami siyang pwedeng gawin na hindi pwedeng gawin ng OIC. Makakatulong siya sa technical operation ng PALECO,” he said.
Engineer Lalas, meanwhile, said that there are different causes of the blackouts in Palawan. “Yung sanhi ng brownout minsan ay sinisisi natin sa PALECO pero minsan din nanggagaling din yan sa ating power supplier, sa ating transmission line, and of course, yung vegetation din, yung mga kahoy na umaabot sa ating mga linya. Pero ang PALECO naman sa ngayon ay ongoing na nagkakaroon ng massive clearing ng vegetation,” he said.
Engineer Lalas also added, “Kailangan nating ayusin ang ating distribution line; may ginagawa tayong mga system improvement.”
During the duration of his service, Engineer Lalas is aiming for an efficient or reliable power supply in Palawan. “My duty as the acting general manager is to manage in order to have an efficient or reliable power supply sa ating mga members and consumers. Yung brownout ay dapat ma-improve natin para sa ganun ay magkaroon ng effective electric service sa ating mga consumers ng kuryente.”
His designation will be terminated upon the appointment of a permanent general manager, which will be done by NEA. There are currently three applicants for the position of PALECO General Manager.
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