Isabela 6th district Rep. Faustino "Inno" Dy (Facebook)

Isabela 6th district Rep. Faustino "Inno" Dy has had enough of what he described as "abusive" officials of electric cooperatives. 

That's why Dy stood up in plenary to call on energy officials, particularly National Electrification Administration (NEA) chief Antonio Almeda, to put a stop to practices within electric cooperatives that end up hurting Filipino consumers. 

"Panahon na para tuldukan natin ang mga pang-aabuso ng ibang mga opisyales ng mga electric cooperatives natin. Panahon na para baguhin ang kanilang mga polisiya na mismong nagpapahirap sa mga kooperatiba at nagdudulot ng problema sa ating mga mamamayan," Dy said in his privilege speech Tuesday, Aug. 8. 

(It's time to put an end to the abusive practices of our electric cooperative officials. It's time to change these officials' policies that only end up burdening the cooperatives themselves and also the people.) 

Dy, chairman of the House Committee on Bases Conversion, has been vocal about the alleged anomalies surrounding Isabela's electric cooperatives, which have been the subject of a congressional probe since last year. 

During the House inquiry, the solons learned that Isabela Electric Cooperative-1 (ISELCO-1) had collected around P130 million in service fees for late payment, a move that had not been approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). 

It was also found out that ISELCO-1 had been paying P2 million monthly for 3 years to a certain DC Tech company for information technology services that have still not been rendered and completed to this day. Also nearly all projects have been awarded to MN Electro Industrial Supply & Services despite repeated delays and failure to deliver on the projects. 

As of July 2022, ISELCO-1 has also been unable to collect around P740 million in consumer account receivables, with another P69 million of receivables unaccounted for. 

Dy said its important for NEA and ERC to resolve these cases and alleged violations, or else the electric cooperatives officials' abuses will persist. "Magpapatuloy ang mga anomalya. Magpapatuloy ang kawalan ng accountability (The anomalies and the lack of accountability will continue)," he said. 

New House probe eyed 

Meanwhile, it has also been found out that some P100 to P500 have also been deducted from ISELCO-1 employees' salaries against their will for four years running. These are supposedly contributions to ONE-EC MCO Foundation. 

Dy said that he, along with other lawmakers, plan to call for another investigation into the said foundation based on suspicion that the contributions are part of a fundraising scheme for elections. 

The Luzon legislator said that he has been advocating for changes within electric cooperatives using his province's experience to stop other instances of mismanagement. 

The province of Isabela would have been 100 percent electrified already had it not been for the alleged mismanagement, Dy further said.