‘WE ARE CAPABLE’: MORE Power’s tech exec among industry’s best

POWER EXEC. Amado Guevarra (left), a key member of MORE Electric and Power Corp.’s management team, discusses the company’s plans for Iloilo City at the Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall on Nov. 26, 2018. Guevarra used to head Pampanga Electric Cooperative II, one of the most efficient elective cooperatives in the country. A certification from the National Electrification Administration affirms the “Category AA” status of Pampanga Electric Cooperative II.

ILOILO City – Ilonggos could expect a dramatic improvement in the power distribution service in this city. A key member of MORE Electric and Power Corp.’s (MORE Power) management team is credited for the turnaround of Pampanga Electric Cooperative II (PELCO II). Bringing to the company over 15 years of experience, Amado Guevarra is one of the best in the industry.

During Monday’s MORE Power presentation before the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), Guevarra was among the resource persons seen and heard.

With questions raised on MORE Power’s capability and the capacity of its officials, Guevarra granted interviews with local reporters when asked on the matter. This, as Councilor Julie Grace Baronda expressed concern leading to his qualifications and years in PELCO II management.

The lady councilor particularly took issue on the supposed difference between PELCO II’s reliability and that of Panay Electric Company (PECO).

To note, PECO is in a bind over the nonrenewal of its franchise as MORE Power got the nod of the Senate on third and final reading.

Guevarra clarified that in as far as PELCO II and PECO are concerned, there really is no point of comparison because PECO is a private distribution utility under the direct supervision of the Department of Energy (DOE) while PELCO II is an electric cooperative being supervised by the National Electrification Administration.

Such as he stressed how in the areas of operation alone, the divide is far and wide, literally and figuratively speaking.

“PECO caters to a highly urban community while PELCO II is a combination of both urban and rural,” Guevarra said. “PECO serves some 64 square kilometers in area while PELCO II is more than 795 square kilometers. Katumbas lang ng isang bayan ang member-consumers ng PECO kung ikukumpara sa PELCO II.”

With that alone, said Guevarra, “the technical and operation concerns are easier for me kaya medyo nagtataka po ako sa (that is why I wonder about the) comparison. PECO, too, has compacted lines while PELCO II? Long-spanning with coastal barangays.”

Yet Guevarra was quick to add that under no circumstance are they “competing” with PECO.

“Ang sa akin lang naman eh bakit hindi po naayos ang mga nirererklamo ng (My concern though is how come the complaints of the consumers are not duly addressed),” he added.

To recall, Baronda presented what she said were results of her online research.  PECO, she said, is “No. 20” in the list of industry players while PELCO II which Guevarra managed, was “No. 56.”

It was not immediately clear though to what context Baronda’’s comparison was made.  Industry sources pointed out, however, the disparity.

“Yes, PECO may be No. 20 but out of only 26 private distribution companies, so not really good, while PELCO II, if indeed on the No. 56 rank as Baronda’s research went, is among 121 electric cooperatives in the country,” a source who was among the observers said while requesting anonymity.

Guevarra, for his part in clarifying the matter, pointed out that his performance to turn around a worst distribution utility to the best category is his qualification.

In 2008 Guevarra took over the management of PELCO II which was suffering a “worst and ailing” stage as distribution utility categorized by NEA as category D.

He made a dramatic turnaround of the electric cooperative after three years and succeeding years from worst to best.

PELCO II under Guevarra’s leadership was recognized by NEA over its 2017 Overall Performance Assessment.

NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong certified in Oct. 15, 2018 PELCO II as “Category AA” with a final score of 90.20.

Said certification got the unanimous nod of the NEA Board of Administrators in September under Board Resolution No. 178./PN

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