Davao electric coop seeks help of NEA
By Lenie Lectura – July 20, 2020
from Business Mirror
The Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative Inc. (DORECO) is seeking financial assistance from the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to finance its operational expenses.
NEA said DORECO intends to borrow P62.222 million for the immediate procurement of equipment and devices “to ensure the continuity and sustainability” of its operations.
“The acquisition of the equipment and devices in our continued pursuit to modernize the DORECO’s power distribution system will certainly benefit the member-consumer-owners and will attract more investors in the province of Davao Oriental,” DORECO Board Resolution No. 110 stated.
NEA received the resolution last July 1.
DORECO’s P177-million capital expenditure application for 2015 was approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) only in October 2018.
The same resolution stated that DORECO has committed to improve its distribution facilities in a bid to provide better service to its power consumers in the province.
DORECO’s coverage area is experiencing frequent low power voltage as it is located at the load end of southern Mindanao. The EC said it has already requested the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to improve the voltage level in the province.
To address this situation, the power distribution utility announced that the NGCP has already laid down its development plan to construct 138 kV transmission line by 2024.
While waiting for the establishment of the 138 kV transmission line, DORECO embarked on an embedded 11-megawatt diesel fired power plant, which is expected to be completed this year, in partnership with a private company.
In addition, it also installed an automatic voltage regulator in Barangay Roxas, Gov. Generoso, Davao Oriental in December 2019 to address the low voltage concerns in the towns of San Isidro and Gov. Generoso.
DORECO also energized its 10 MVA Substation in Baganga in December 2019 to improve the distribution services in the towns of Baganga, Boston, Caraga, Cateel, and Manay.
“Through the years, the entire DORECO workforce has been doing its best in ensuring power reliability and service efficiency in the delivery of power services within the province of Davao Oriental,” it said.
