FRUSTRATED consumers in Misamis Oriental are calling on elected officials to hold a joint meeting to address persistent power issues and high electricity bills from the Misamis Oriental Rural Electric Service Cooperative (Moresco II).
The demand, based on individual consumer interviews, urges officials from the province, Gingoog City, and the cooperative’s coverage area to pass a joint resolution to demand that Moresco II upgrade its services.
Provincial board members Marlon Kho and Jabi Bernaldez, both representing the first district, have voiced their support for the proposal.
“That’s better, that’s a collaborative resolution, among the provincial officials including Gingoog City and the municipalities in the first district of the province,” Bernaldez said in a phone interview.
Kho also expressed his support, saying, “I agree and I will support such a step.”
Medina Councilor Arthur Cahoy called the proposed joint meeting “timely,” pointing out that there have been three power outages in just one hour recently in his town.
The issue of frequent outages is not new to the cooperative’s consumers.
Reports indicate that consumers experienced severe power outages even before the construction of the King Energy Generator Inc. (KEGI) plant in San Luis, Gingoog City, in 2013.
The plant was expected to supply about 10 megawatts.
Prior to KEGI’s establishment, Moresco II requested and received a resolution of no objection from the Gingoog City Council.
The cooperative had assured officials that the plant would eliminate brownouts, though higher bills would be expected.
Moresco II also has a power supply agreement with FDC that provides more than 25 megawatts and is set to end in 2028.
Additionally, the cooperative reportedly has an agreement with the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation from 2016 for 4.5 megawatts.
Despite the alleged power oversupply from these three companies, consumers continue to experience frequent blackouts and extremely high bills.
