ILOILO City – The assistant vice president for operations of Panay Electric Co. (PECO) has retired.
Six months after PECO’s franchise as power distributor here expired in January, Engineer Randy Pastolero decided to have an early retirement effective today.
“But I’m still going back to the office bwas para sa turnover of documents sa mga staff and to get some personal stuff man,” Pastolero told Panay News yesterday.
Pastolero had been working for PECO since April 18, 1995 or for a total of 24 years.
“Kami sa PECO may option for early retirement paglab-ot sa certain number of years of service. May mga benefits nga ginahatag man,” said Pastolero.
He denied he would be transferring to More Electric and Power Corp. (MORE Power) which has secured a 25-year franchise to distribute power in the city replacing PECO.
Pastolero said he had not applied for a job at MORE Power and transferring to it was not among his immediate options.
“Waay sang amo sina nga plano,” he stressed.
What if MORE Power offers him a job?
“Medyo i-relevant ina sia kay wala sia naga-upod sa akon nga plano for now,” said Pastolero.
The engineer said he would be focusing on his farm in nearby Guimaras and other small business ventures.
“May ara ako mga plano para sa akon nga personal like tutokan ang negosyo namon and then also makahatag kita atenyon sa aton Guimarasfarm para mapa-uswag man,” said Pastolero.
Meanwhile, PECO administrative manager Marcelo Cacho assured city residents that it is “business as usual” in the power firm.
“Padayun gid tanan ang programs and projects,” he said.
Despite not having a franchise, PECO has been allowed by the Energy Regulatory Commission to continue operating via a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity until such time MORE Power is able to run its own power distribution system.
Cacho also said the post vacated by Pastolero had been split into two — operations manager for implementation and operations manager for planning.
“This means the managers can focus more on their respective concerns,” he said.
Cacho said Pastolero informed the company of the latter’s retirement plan as early as last year.
For over 95 years, PECO as holder of a franchise for electric power distribution had been serving the consumers of Iloilo City.
It was established in 1923 under the management of Don Esteban De La Rama.
In 1927, under the ownership of Doña Candelaria Ditching Soriano Cacho, the matriarch of the Cacho clan, PECO became the first 100 percent Filipino-owned enterprise in Iloilo City.
In 1945, when World War II left 80 percent of the distribution lines damaged with only 60 percent power of the rated capacities generated by power generators, PECO strived to rehabilitate these power generators and the distribution system.
In 1962, during the drastic devaluation of the Philippine peso, PECO, through its General Manager, Jose Maria Cacho, borrowed money to pay the dollar-denominated purchases of modern equipment and facilities imported abroad.
PECO has five power substations in Barangay Baldoza, La Paz; Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro; Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao; Avanceña, Molo; and General Luna Street, City Proper./PN
