LIPA City -- Residents from various municipalities in Batangas raise alarm over the worsening power service provided by the local power cooperative, specifically Batangas II Electric Cooperative (BATELEC II).
BATELEC II is the distributor of electric power to San Juan, Taysan, Lobo, Rosario, Mabini, Tingloy, Bauan, San Pascual, Ibaan, Alitagtag, Cuenca, San Jose, Mataas na Kahoy, Balete, Padre Garcia, Malvar, Talisay, Laurel, Tanauan and Batangas City.
The residents from the vast coverage area of BATELEC II decry the service provider’s recurring scheduled power outages coupled with the high generation rates levied upon consumers.
According to complaints, the frequent power interruptions can last up to several hours, resulting in great inconvenience in daily lives and massive losses to businesses.
Nina Balogo, a local business owner based in Taysan says her livelihood is greatly impacted by BATELEC II unreliable service. Running a piggery, each interruption has a double effect on their operations. Power outages at the piggery also results in water service interruption, a crucial utility used in daily operations.
For Mae Panganiban, a housewife in Lobo, almost daily power interruptions have negatively impacted their family’s health and wellbeing. The dry season is exacerbated by lack of power service resulting in sleepless nights and bouts of flu.
Another sector affected by BATELEC II poor service are work-from-home employees who are heavily reliant on consistent service, both internet and electricity, to fulfill their daily tasks. Both Ruth Manguiat from Mabini and Yanna Yee from Lipa City expressed their frustration about having to find alternative workspaces outside their homes every time BATELEC II announces a scheduled power interruption, defeating the purpose of their work-from-home arrangements.
Aside from the life and livelihood inconveniences brought by frequent service interruptions by BATELEC II, another concern irks residents is the strain unreliable electricity puts on their appliances. Constant surges and outages affect electrical components and cause early degradation and even breakage.
The rising uproar among Batangas residents against BATELEC II has reached the local government.
Members of the Municipal Council of Lobo, Batangas, Councilor John Michael Anyayahan and Councilor Mark Tiu have expressed their dismay towards the underperforming electric cooperative and have filed resolutions to formalize these complaints. Concerned officials are hoping the resolutions ultimately reach the Congress for immediate action.
For Councilor Tiu, BATELEC II system and infrastructure are outdated, and are currently insufficient to effectively and efficiently electrify the municipalities under its service. In case the current cooperative is unable or unwilling to overhaul and upgrade its facilities, the municipality is open to a Congressional intervention to improve the service for all Batangueños.
Additionally, House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo has also filed a resolution along with other legislators calling for the removal of franchise from underperforming power cooperatives across the country.
Meanwhile, according to BATELEC II Consumer Services and Public Relations Manager Joan Orias, the power interruptions across Batangas are due to storms and other weather disturbances that cause damage to power lines and insulations. It was recently reported that damages to five power lines across Lipa City caused class cancellations at De La Salle Lipa.
Over 90% of Batangas, a prime tourist destination and highly industrialized province in the CALABARZON region, is serviced by BATELEC I and BATELEC II. (IAm/OpBats)
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