Electric cooperatives, consumers group back Gatchalian’s re-election bid


A group of electric cooperatives and member-consumer-owners have thrown their support to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian who is seeking a fresh term in the Senate in the upcoming May 2022 national elections.

The 13.5 million-strong National Center of Electric Cooperatives Consumers Inc. (NCECCO) said it is endorsing Gatchalian’s re-election bid for being a strong advocate of providing reliable and quality services to electricity consumers.

“With strong conviction, this body firmly believes that Senator Win could further steer positive change and progress in the country with his platform of government and track records on passed and approved laws and bills which are all geared towards the empowerment and protection of the rights and interests of the Filipino citizenry in the next years to come,” NCECCO’s Resolution No. 6 read.

According to the group, Gatchalian—who currently heads the Senate Energy Committee—is a long-time partner of the electric cooperatives in the country given his contributions in the passage of several measures aimed at fostering a competitive, investor-friendly and red-tape free environment in the energy sector and in the Philippine economy, in general.

The group said the upcoming national and local elections is a great opportunity for NCECCO to select and support a candidate who displays understanding and compassion to the advocacies of NCECCO and who has a vision which prioritizes the welfare and interests of the Member Consumer Owners (MCOs) especially the marginalized and underprivileged folks in the rural areas.

They also said the senator is “best known as a public servant at heart, whose successful career is significantly founded by honesty, integrity, and a relentless drive for public service and led the Senate Committee on Energy with one goal in mind – to protect and empower the Filipino consumers.”

Gatchalian earlier led Senate investigations regarding the controversial approval of an alleged anomalous share sale deal in the Malampaya gas field and recommended the filing of charges against Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and his officials.

Last February 4, he transmitted to the Office of the Ombudsman the Senate resolution carrying the recommendations of his panel’s investigation into the Malamapaya deal.