Churchill Aguilar I RECEIVED my electric bill from Moresco 1 for the month of February amounting to P677.00. Three weeks after I was given a notice of disconnection. So I paid my due through a paying station in Barangay Canitoan. It was then that I learned of the new policy of Moresco 1 that they will disconnect service even if only one month bill was not paid. I was devastated upon learning such policy exists. Not that I could not afford to pay my due, it is obviously a very small amount. But what baffles me is the spirit of such policy itself. I find it insensitive and very discriminatory to the poor and the marginalized members and ultimately going against the principle of a cooperative. Electricity is already a basic commodity; as such it can even be considered a right and very much demandable. As much as I understand that the cooperative needs to sustain its operation, for heaven’s sake not this way. How about increasing the rate for commercial establishments and industries and being more strict to them in terms of collection, rather than holding hostage those who could hardly eat. It’s the principle of the one-month policy itself that is utterly anti-poor and in a way very evil. Besides, Moresco 1 could not even provide ample paying stations with their growing membership with only about two banks accepting in CDO area; one in Cogon Market while another in Bulua. Sometimes the taxi fare is even more expensive than my due. And their cut-off time is 12 noon, not so friendly to the working people at all. The more reason they need to review their one month rule. This is supposedly the work of the Board who we are paying. They are supposed to weigh things before they make policies. Obviously this was not well thought of. Or if it was, the Board may have the wrong concept of what the electric cooperative is all about. This is not purely a business corporation. And profit should not be the main goal here but rather to provide access of electricity to the farthest they can possibly reach. Mas maayu pang Aboitiz nga private provider sa electricity kai di pa ga-one month rule. Mas naa pa silay kasingkasing sa ilang customers. Kita na hinuon nga kooperatiba kini sa mga pobre, ang mga pobre naman hinuon ang halos di maka enjoy sa serbisyo kai pangputlan man dayun. Sila pa mas madak-an sa gasto kai mag bayad na pod sila ug reconnection fee. If this is not acted upon then perhaps it is high time that the members should reconsider putting other people to sit on the Board as our representative, those who would promote our interest and welfare. Just saying.