Renewal, Reform and Rehabilitation

A Pastoral Letter on the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO)

“A clean heart create for us, O God; renew within us a steadfast spirit.” cf. Ps 51,12

Dear People of God:

It has been more than a year since I was requested to take part in looking for solutions for our embattled ALECO, solutions both urgent and long-term, effective and beneficial to all. From my humble knowledge and engagement with our electric cooperative, I would like to speak now as a pastor looking after the hopes and fears of the people of our province in these trying times.

The problems of ALECO did not happen overnight. They were brought about by a system that has not done enough in implementing checks and balances, nor in pursuing accountability on the part of those entrusted with running the cooperative. Add to this a legislation that puts a vital service such as the supply of electricity at the whim and mercy of market forces. In the end, it is the people, especially the poor, who suffer the most for the wrongs they have not done and for sins they have not committed.

At the outset, we acknowledge the assistance and leadership of President Benigno Aquino III, together with the Department of Energy and the National Electrification Administration, in finding ways to resolve these problems. Nonetheless, we call upon them still not to abandon Albayanos in this struggle. It is a matter of social justice and good governance that they must commit everything in their power to help in the rehabilitation of our cooperative.

We welcome the initiatives of our local political leaders in advocating the cause of ALECO. Decisiveness and genuine concern for our people will pave the way out of our dire situation and bring about progress and unity. However, prudent intervention ends when a return to patronage politics begins. We call upon our local leaders to continue to support the independent governance of our cooperative and not let bad politics corrupt it yet again.

We also appreciate the various individuals and groups who have invested much time and effort in finding long-term solutions to our recurring problems while upholding the spirit of genuine cooperativism and the demands of justice. However, good intentions need also the open mindedness to seek to understand other points of view and form a realistic self-assessment of strengths and limitations. Such balancing act may even produce better ideas and better venues for collaboration.

We have used the analogy of a sick person who is hemorrhaging to death as an apt description of the sad condition of our electric cooperative. In this regard, we have tried a number of measures to remedy the situation, among them the Special Payment Agreement. Yet much is still required.

We have listened to various stakeholders and a few proposals in their initial stages. However we do not have the luxury of time. A major part of the problem is high systems loss aggravated by substandard equipment and depreciating facilities, and low collection efficiency. And because we are not able to pay our bills, our debt continues to balloon out of proportion and the threat of disconnection looms over us.

Soon we will have to make a decision about what is best for ALECO. In the process of accepting and evaluating various proposals, and the eventual approval of the most suitable, we would like to submit the following principles for consideration.

1.      The welfare of Albayanos is the first priority. Translated to the services being offered by ALECO, this means a stable supply of electricity, reasonable rates, and sustained rural electrification, among other things. Whatever solution may be offered must have the common good as its top priority.

2.      The preservation of our cooperative nature is our preferred position. An ably run electric cooperative, together with judicious government oversight and strong support from member-consumers, is still the most ideal situation for Albayanos. Considering our not so ideal circumstances however, our no-to-privatization stand cannot extend to the exclusion of other solutions that may involve the infusion of private capital and resources if the situation so requires. The measure of a righteous stand is not whether it fits a certain ideology but whether it is truthful, just and fair, and leads to an option that benefits our people the most.

3.      Obligations should be acknowledged and settled. While the priority are the member-consumers, the obligations to suppliers, those from whom we have outstanding debts, and the employees, need to be given importance as well. Any proposal to be considered must abide by this principle. This, however, does not rule out efforts at securing reasonable loan payment restructuring and seeking judicial remedy against payment of unjust debts.

4.      Transparency and accountability need to be ensured in the service of truth and justice. The process of choosing the pathway to rehabilitation and turn-around must be done with utmost transparency in order to be fair and credible to member-consumers and stakeholders. Shady deals and undue influencing cannot be tolerated. The wrongdoings of the past need to be investigated and those liable must be brought to justice. Government officials, administrators, employees, volunteers, and those helping ALECO in any way, must bear in mind that they are accountable to the people of Albay.

5.      Real rehabilitation will be realized only through meaningful reforms. Our present situation may seem bleak at the outset, but we also recognize that we have before us the opportunity to finally leave behind this dark chapter of our cooperative’s history. If we are to move forward, we cannot afford to regress to the old ways of complacency and corruption. A healthy rehabilitated ALECO is not an impossible dream, but it will happen only if meaningful reforms are instituted as soon as possible.

As we journey through the season of Lent, the need for reconciliation, conversion and renewal becomes even more urgent in our relationship with God and with each other. We need to be reconciled with our true identity as God intends us to be. The Father of mercies has given us an example of unselfish love in the sacrifice of His Son. Jesus humbled himself for our sake that we may follow his example. We are thus redeemed persons, capable of going beyond the temptation of selfishness and journeying together towards a deeper concern for one another and for the common good.

In more concrete terms, we need to rekindle the very purpose of our cooperative: that is to serve our people and in so doing contribute to the progress and development of our families and communities, province and country. In order for ALECO to be renewed and transformed, we the people that compose it need to be renewed and transformed as well.

May the Almighty God bless our efforts with success and bring them all to fulfillment.

Sincerely in the Lord,

+JOEL Z. BAYLON

Bishop of Legazpi

Rev. Fr. Rex Paul B. Arjona

Chancellor-Secretary

7 March 2012

how not to solve the problem of ALECO

admittedly, the result was not unexpected.

last 6-7 may, our electric coop's miembros-consumidores voted for the new ALECO board of directors. well, at least, 13% of them/us. i voted in behalf of the bishop's house. you can look at 13% in two ways: glass is half-empty - small voter turn-out; glass is half-full - largest ever voter turn-out. an optimist by preference, i choose the half-full version. and partly because it would lead me to discuss two factors why it happened thus.

1. the church factor. the sunday before, the homilies in all masses had a common subject: the election. plus our media campaign. suddenly people were talking (and were apparently concerned) about the huge debt - P850M plus and counting - which ALECO has incurred in more than a decade of corrupt and bad management.

2. the vote-buying factor. again, it was not unexpected. vote-buying happened in all districts, save for 2: legazpi-rapu-rapu (where there was only one candidate) and ligao-oas (the baluarte of the governor). some also claim a no-cheating situation for old albay-manito, then again, we also heard reports stating otherwise. the consensus: there was cheating in that district but only to an 'insignificant' degree.

the same 'style' for the regular gov't officials' elections was employed for this election. including padrino politicos. but here's the twist: rumor has it that a local politician with powerful connections way up, was seen in public in, at least, 3 districts, a day before and during the 1st day of election, talking with 'known' supporters of certain candidates. the 'public secret' is he's behind most of the vote-buying operations.

let's twist things some more: apparently, he is only a point-person (if you want to be charitable) or a pimp (if you want to be precise) for a foreign company who has long expressed (another understatement) intention to either buy the coop (i.e. privatize - which was popularly opposed) or enter into an 'independent management contract' (IMC).

speaking of un-failed expectations, the winning candidates' true colors are expected to be revealed further in two more forthcoming occasions: (1) during the voting of the board chairman and (2) during the deliberation and voting for the resolution/s on the 'independent management contract' issue. and then, of course, in their conduct and decisions through their entire term.

now here's our commitment, and hopefully, that of all the member-consumers of ALECO, too: we will watch the board. we will be vigilant and we will push for transparency in all transaction and decisions. whatever decisions will be taken will have to pass through proper, just and fair processes.

this time, we hope, despite initial setbacks, there would be space for our great expectations.

how do you solve a problem like ALECO?

tomorrow, 6 may, is the election of the new board of directors of our aleco (albay electric cooperative). though only a small segment of our province's population will get to exercise their right to vote (only registered members, i.e., those whose name appears on the bill), we have been actively promoting and giving it extensive media exprosure.

aleco is saddled with so many problems - technical, personnel, financial (a whooping P865M debt, and counting). 2 times napocor threatened to cut the province's power supply, it was assuaged by the appeals and assurances of both the governor and the bishop. this election is recommended by our original SAC consultants commissioned by NEA (at present, some of them hold key temporary posts in the management of aleco) and by some of the province's leaders as one of the major steps towards solving the coop's problems.

what has happened to aleco? imagine. more than a decade of systemic, endemic, wanton graft and corruption. positions dispensed as political favors - result: overstaffed, lots of unnecessary and inefficient workers, enormous retirement benefits, and several court cases filed by employees, former and present. NEA inspectors wined, dined and womened. antiquated facilities. 21% systems loss (way above the 14% industry standard). only 63% collection efficiency (way below any standards) - that's 37% uncollected electric bill! clear and simple mismanagement.

in short, aleco was runned and runned down like a regular gov't agency. but unlike a gov't agency backed-up by a huge network with deep source of funds that can remedy the regular foul-ups it commits, aleco has none such backing. it stands on its own, on the discretion of its managers and directors, and the support of its coop members.

the election is so important that the bishop was compelled to make a radio message last week, his first since assuming his post in legazpi, urging the members to vote and the people to be concerned, as well as assuring the public that the election would push through (against the attempts and rumor-mongering of one atty. olaybal, a former member of the board, to stop the elections for reasons of his own). last sunday, in all the parishes and sunday masses in the entire diocese, the homily was this election and aleco's problems. here's the homily which our office prepared:

HOMILIA PARA SA PAG-ANDAM SA ELECCION
KAN BAGONG BOARD OF DIRECTORS KAN ALECO
Ikatolong Domingo Pakalapas (30 Abril 2006)

Sa ebanghelyo ngonyan padagos kita sa pagsubaybay
sa mga pangyayari matapos an Pagkabuhay-liwat ni JesuCristo.
An ebanghelyo manunungod sa istorya kan mga disipulo
na nagkakatiripon sa sarong kwarto, sarado an pintuan,
nagdadarangog sa istorya kan duwang disipulo
na nakaibahan si Jesus sa dalan pasiring sa Emmaus
alagad dai ninda tulos namidbidan,
kun bako sa pagbaak kan tinapay.
Mantang naghuhuroron sinda manunungod kaini,
biglang nagpahiling sainda si Jesus.
Nagkatarakot sinda asin naghurona
na nakakahiling sinda nin multo.
Alagad an pagkatakot nasanglean
nin katoninongan asin kaogmahan
Lalo na kan si Jesus maghapot:
“Ano lamang an isirà ta dyan?”.
Asin naliwanagan an saindang kadikloman
kan namidbidan na ninda saiya.

Uya pa saiya an hawak na “nagkakakan” alagad dai na magagadan
nin huli ta dinaog na niya an kagadanan siring man an kasalan.
Ipinaliwanag man ni Jesus sa mga disipulos na nasa Kasuratan
an bilog na plano nin Dios manungod sa kaligtasan nin tawo.
Sa Banal na Kasuratan masasabotan niato
na an Dios igwa nin plano sa tawo:
boot niyang makaligtas kita sa karatan
asin makasaro sa bagong buhay huli ki Cristo.
An kaligtasan asin bagong buhay na ini
para sa bilog na tawo – hawak asin kalag –
na magmumuraway, huli sa saiyang gracia, sa huring aldaw.
An kaligtasan nin Dios huli ki JesuCristo
kaligtasan para sa hawak asin sa kalag.

Ngonyan na Domingo, kaming mga padi kan dioceses
igwa nin boot ipaaram saindo –
nagpagdesisyunan mi na tabangan an satong katawohan
na maaraman asin maliwanagan sa sarong dakulang problema
na pinaghahampang ta sa ngonyan –
an satuyang Albay Electric Cooperative o ALECO.
Tibaad magngalas kamo kun nata ta pinaggigibo mi ini.
An rason iyo na an ALECO nakakaapekto
sa karahayan kan gabos na Albayano.
Sa pagpadagos kan misyon nin kaligtasan ni Jesus,
an Simbahan kaipuhan na magmakulog sa karahayan
asin kapakanan kan bilog na tawo – kalag asin lawas.

An problema ta iyo ini: an ALECO igwa nin dakulaon na utang:
maabot 800 MILYON DE PESOS
sa NAPOCOR asin sa iba pang pinagkakautangan.
Kan Abril 2004 diit na kitang putulan nin kuryente kan NAPOCOR
nin huli ngani sa dakulang utang na ini kan ALECO.
May 200 na empleyado kan ALECO an nagrani sa Obispo
asin naghagad nin tabang. Dara ninda an suporta
kan National Electrification Administration o NEA
Nin huli ta para man sana ini sa karahayan kan kagabsan,
an Obispo kan Legazpi kaidto, si Msgr. Jose Sorra,
inako an dakula asin mapagal na trabahong ini.
Kaya an Simbahan, sa paagi kan Social Action Center (SAC),
nagtatabang na sa paghanap nin solusyon
sa problema kan ALECO poon kaidto.

An problema kan ALECO dakulang gayo.
Alagad dikit saná an magiginibo
hanggang dai pa natatawan nin solusyon
an sarong aspeto kan problema kaini.
Ini an ELECCION kan BAGONG BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

Sa katunayan, nag-expire na an termino
kan gabos na miembros kan Board.
Kaya kun igwa pa man ki miembro kan Board na natatadà,
an saiyang termino haloy nang nag-expire,
kaya dai na man talaga nin Board
na nag-aatendir sa mga pangangaipo kan ALECO.

Ini an satuyang gigibohon sa maabot na Mayo 6 asin 7:
An MAG-ELIHIR KAN BAGONG BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Boot ming ipaaram na an Board of Directors kan satong ALECO
importanteng gayo sa solusyon kan satuyang problema.
Sinda an naggigibo kan mga policia
asin nagmamangno/supervise sa pagpadalagan kan mga ini.
Sinda an naggigibo kan mga importanteng desisyon
sa ngaran kan gabos na consumidores asin miembros kan ALECO.
Kaya kaipuhan tang makaelihir nin MARHAY
asin MATANOS na BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Boot sabihon kaipuhan tang magpili
nin sarong miembro kan Board para sa satong distrito
na igwa kan mga minasunod na qualificacion:

Enot, igwa nin KAKAYAHAN (competence)
– moral asin profesional.
May pagkaaram sa mga bagay na tecnical
manunungod sa pagpadalagan (management)
nin sarong dakula asin sensitibong serbisyo.
Siring man tatao magdesisyon
susog sa prinsipyong makaDios asin makatawo.

Ikaduwa, igwa nin INTEGRIDAD; boot sabihon maimbod
sa pagsabuhay kan saiyang identity (pagkamidbid sa sadiri)
bilang aki nin Dios asin parasunod ni Cristo.
An siring na tawo midbid na matanos
asin matitiwalaan (just and trustworthy)
sa mga presente o nakaagi na niyang trabaho, negosyo o posisyon.
Bakong kurakot, abusado sa poder, mabisyo, o mahabon.

Ikatolo, Pinapaorog an karahayan nin kagabsan (common good).
Kaipuhan na an Board of Directors igwa nin kusog nin boot
na daogon an makasadiring interes,
o interes kan pamilya, o mga suportadores,
na kontra sa karahayan kan kadaklan o kan kagabsan.
Siring man, may political will na magdesisyon
asin mag-implementar kan mga kaipuhan na reforma
asin pagbabago sa ALECO minsan dificil asin mapagal.

Nangangapodan kami na magkaigwa kita
nin sarong malinig asin honestong pirilian.
Kun igwa nin mamakal nin boto, magtao o magtugâ nin pabor
para botohan an sarong kandidato, maliwanag na tanda ini
na dai ta siya botohan ta mahanap an siring na tawo
nin paagi para makabawi kun manggana.
Siring man, nangangapodan kami sa gabos
na dai maghagad o maghalat nin anuman – kwarta o pabor –
hale sa mga kandidato; ta pagginibo ta ini,
kita na mismo an nagkukurakot sa mga kandidato,
kita an nagdadara sainda na maggibo nin sala,
kita an nagpapasakit sa satong banwaan,
an nagpapagabat kan sadiri tang kamugtakan.

Ini an nagkapirang mga praktikal na kaipuhan
maaraman para sa eleccion sa Mayo 6-7:
1. Aramon kun ika qualificado para magboto
/ taraman su iba na qualificado.
An qualificadong botante iyo su an ngaran nakasurat sa electric bill.
An lista kan mga qualificadong botante nakapaskel
sa opisina kan ALECO asin sa municipio.
2. Aramon kun haen an lugar na pagboborotohan.
Sa satong banwaan/ciudad an polling place
nasa _______________________.
3. Magdara nin valid ID para madali an identificacion.
Magpasiguro man nin kopya kan electric bill
kun saen nakasurat an pangaran. Ballpen siring man.

Tabangan ta an satong ALECO.
Tabangan ta an satong banwaan.
Magpili kita nin MARHAY asin MATANOS
na miembro kan BOARD of DIRECTORS.

Saro sa mga mensahe kan Pagkabuhay-liwat ni JesuCristo iyo ini:
minsan gurano kadificil an buhay,
minsan gurano kagabat o kadakula kan problema,
kaya tang magtriunfo sa kadificilan,
kaya tang makakua nin marhay na solusyon.
Siring na si Jesus nanggana sa karatan asin kagadanan,
sa paagi nin sakripisyo asin pag-atang kan saiyang sadiri,
kita man kayang pangganahan
an dakulang problema kan satong ALECO.

Dios an mag-antabay saindo gabos. Amen.