Veco holds "pulong-pulong" to educate power consumers

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayan Electric Company, Inc. has initiated a weekly “pulong-pulong” within its franchise area to educate the public about electric pilferage.

The activity is also aimed to lower the incidents of electricity theft which often causes fire incidents. The pulong-pulong is organized by Veco’s Revenue Protection Department (RPD) headed by Engr. Noel S. Modesto.

VECO announced that a meter relocation and elevation activity known as Elevated Clustered Metering will be done in the densely populated areas in the Cebu City wherein illegal connections are said to be rampant.

Among the areas where there are reported massive electric pilferage include Barangays Duljo Fatima, Mambaling, Ermita, Tejero, Lorega, San Roque, Tinago, Day-as, Kamagayan.

ECM was already done in Barangay Carreta last March 31. Pulong-pulongs were held in Barangays Mantuyong and Guizo in Mandaue City last March 18 and 22, respectively.

Modesto and his team informs the power consumers on the consequences of meter tampering and illegal tapping, which is one of the causes of fires in the densely populated areas of Cebu City and Mandaue last year.

Veco also take advantage of the “pulong-pulong” to emphasize to the consumers the consequences of violating RA 7832.

Those who are found guilty of electric pilferage will suffer the penalty of six to 12 years imprisonment excluding the payment of the stolen electricity and the surcharge of up to 100-percent.

VECO spokesperson Ethel Natera said that aside from the weekly information campaign the power utility takes the initiative to relocate the meters to keep pilferers from tapping to the secondary lines. Stopping the pilferers also stops the likelihood of fire. (FREEMAN)