A-Camarines launch ‘Forum@PIA’

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur, July 2 (PIA) -- The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) provincial office in Naga City, Camarines Sur launched on Friday, June 29, “Forum@PIA,” a monthly round table discussion with the media.

It is in line with the agency’s mission to provide adequate information to the public. It will also serve as their guide to make better decisions and encourage media partners in disseminating programs of the government.

National Electrification Administration (NEA) project supervisor Eddie Adlao, NEA Institutional Officer Engineer Hector Tabelisma and Camarines Sur Electric Coperative (Casureco) II Information Officer Manny Rojo served as guests during the program’s pilot presentation.

The forum has shed light on various issues concerning the power outages that the city has been experiencing for the past two months. This has pestered most of the power consumers, including businessmen who were greatly affected by the power interruption. The power interruptions also derailed important transactions, including processing of some deals in various government agencies that uses computer operations.

Adlao was sent by NEA together with two engineers to troubleshoot pressing concerns inside the cooperative and come up with various recommendations on how to normalize its operation.

During the forum, Adlao presented update on the operation of Casureco II, including the cooperative’s financial and technical aspects. For the month of June, Adlao explained that the average power rate is pegged at 9.8526, as broken down to the following rate components: Power costs coming from the power suppliers- 8.3496, distribution charges from Casureco II- 0.6410 and government charge at 0.8620.

Casureco II purchased 55 percent of its power from Masinloc, 44 percent from Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and only one percent from the Bicol Hydropower Corporation (BHPC). This was after the Thermal Luzon Inc. (TLI) supply was suspended.

Rojo said that the NEA will still conduct a thorough analysis of the situation and will come up with recommendations on how power outages will be avoided in the future.

“NEA, with the Casureco personnel are now looking on some plans to employ measure to address power problems even before they crop up by means of doing regular preventive maintenance and meticulous checking of our substations located in various parts of Camarines Sur,” Rojo added.

Members from the media were also given a chance to raise their queries during the forum.

FORUM@PIA will be held every last Friday of the month at the Radyo ng Bayan office located at Civic Center, Taal Avenue, Naga City from 10 to 11 a.m. It will continue to serve as the government’s information arm in disseminating accurate information regarding the programs of the national government, including its agencies and encourage support and participation of other stakeholders.

Forum@PIA aims to be at the helm of this mission by inviting government officials, particularly heads of offices, directors, local chief executives and representatives from government agencies and private partners. (MAL/LSM-PIA5 Camarines Sur)