Power coop unions launch movement

CEBU, Philippines - Labor unions from at least 42 rural electric cooperatives and consumer groups have launched "Koop ko 'To" movement which is aimed at advancing the interests of REC workers and consumers in the country.

The movement was launched during the two-day conference held in Cebu, which was sponsored by the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), National Solidarity of Unions (NSU) and National Solidarity of Associations of Electric Cooperatives (NSAEC).

Milo Tanchuling, FDC national secretary general, said in a statement that the conference aims to build an alternative agenda for electric cooperatives and the power industry as whole.

It also aims to adopt a vision that will push for the democratization of the industry.

Tanchuling said that the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) failed to deliver its promise of lower electricity rates to the Filipino people.

But he said that the law simply transferred the monopoly privileges from the state to corporate private interests, thus allowing the ‘gains’ to be kept as excess profits by the privatized monopoly instead of being shared with the consumers through lower electricity rates.

He added that the conference also aims to come up with a plan on how to challenge the EPIRA since "there is a need for a paradigm shift."

FDC said this paradigm shift entails transforming electric cooperatives member-consumers into cooperative owners rather than as mere consumers.

On the other hand, Joshua Mata, APL secretary general, said the movement will push for the democratization of the power industry, rejection of privatization and deregulation of framework which the current energy law espouses, and for development of an alternative agenda to EPIRA.

Mata said there will be no real democratization of power industry unless there is an ownership by cooperative workers and members. – Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM   (FREEMAN NEWS)