Ipil SB Seeks ERC Forensic Probe into ZAMSURECO II, Approves Complaint Against Acting GM
Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay — The Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Ipil has unanimously approved two resolutions calling for government intervention in the affairs of the Zamboanga del Sur II Electric Cooperative (ZAMSURECO II), including a request for the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to conduct a comprehensive financial and technical investigation into the electric cooperative's worsening condition.
The resolutions were passed during the council's 52nd Regular Session after invited officials of ZAMSURECO II, including Acting General Manager Atty. Jordanne B. Chan-Antonio, failed to appear before the municipal council despite a formal invitation to address growing concerns over the cooperative's operations.
The inquiry was prompted by mounting complaints from member-consumers across Zamboanga Sibugay, particularly on social media, regarding recent electricity billing, alleged absence of actual meter readings in some areas, and the overall performance of the electric cooperative.
The first resolution, principally authored by SB Member Hon. Alberto "Jong" Alcoriza, formally requests the ERC to undertake an urgent financial, technical, institutional, and forensic investigation into the sustained decline in the operational and financial condition of ZAMSURECO II.
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The measure also urges the ERC to exercise the structural remedies provided under Republic Act No. 10531, otherwise known as the National Electrification Administration Reform Act of 2013, should the investigation establish the need for regulatory intervention.
Council members said the proposed investigation seeks to determine the factors that contributed to the electric cooperative's continuing financial difficulties and evaluate measures necessary to protect the interests of member-consumers.
The resolution was unanimously approved by the council, with copies to be furnished to the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and other concerned agencies.
The second resolution, also introduced by Alcoriza, formally lodged a complaint against Acting General Manager Chan-Antonio over her failure to appear before the municipal council or designate an authorized representative despite receiving a formally served invitation.
Members of the council said the appearance was intended to provide consumers and local officials with an opportunity to seek clarification on issues affecting thousands of electricity consumers in the province.
The complaint likewise questioned the cooperative's failure to respond to the council's invitation despite the public interest involved. Both resolutions were approved without objection.
During the session, former ZAMSURECO II General Manager Jesus Castro voluntarily appeared before the council and shared his knowledge of the cooperative's history and financial condition.
Castro, who served the electric cooperative for approximately 30 years, told council members that ZAMSURECO II obtained about ₱700 million in loans from the National Electrification Administration during his tenure to finance development projects, adding that nearly ₱600 million had already been paid before his retirement.
Castro further claimed that ZAMSURECO II was recently turned over to Zamboanga del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. and alleged that there are plans to privatize the cooperative.
According to Castro, should privatization proceed, all assets accumulated through member-consumer equity contributions, including donated properties, should be properly accounted for and disposed of in accordance with the law, with proceeds corresponding to member equity returned to the cooperative's member-consumers.
He likewise recalled that NEA assumed management supervision over ZAMSURECO II in 2014 and that its Board of Directors was abolished in 2019, resulting, he said, in member-consumers no longer having elected representation in the cooperative's management.
Castro also claimed that since his retirement, ZAMSURECO II has accumulated approximately ₱1 billion in losses.
Before the session concluded, SB Member Joel Ebol proposed that copies of the two approved resolutions also be transmitted to the Office of the President of the Philippines, in addition to the ERC and NEA, to bring the concerns raised by the municipal council to the attention of national authorities.
