The First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) has been cited by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) as one of nine electric cooperatives nationwide which improved their categories across all performance levels in 2021.
In its Calendar Year 2021 EC Overall Performance Assessment and Size Classification, NEA said FICELCO jumped from its previous Category A rating in 2019 to Category AAA in 2021.
Two other Bicol cooperatives were in the list: Camarines Sur Electric Cooperative III, which went from Category AA to Category AAA, and Masbate’s Ticao Island Electric Cooperative, which moved from Category C to Category B.
Of the 121 cooperatives included in the assessment, 87 were rated AAA, with 25 of them garnering 100% performance assessment. In summary, 105 retained their ratings, nine improved their performance level while seven retrogressed.
Among the seven ailing cooperatives, four remained as Category D: Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO), Basilan Electric Cooperative (BASELCO), Lanao del Sur EC (LASURECO) and Tawi-Tawi EC (TAWELCO). The other three, Abra EC (ABRECO), Masbate EC (MASELCO) and Sulu EC (SULECO) retained their status as Category D
“Electric cooperatives that need further improvement in their overall performance should reassess their financial, institutional and technical operations, reformulate plant/programs, implement more aggressive strategies and activities, and closely monitor the progress to address major issues and concerns,” NEA Administrator Emmanuel Juaneza said.
The NEA also commended the cooperatives for resiliency and vigilance in coping with the challenges on the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, natural calamities and pressing economic and political issues and concerns.
It likewise reported that on the result of EC classification by size, the number of Mega Large ECs increased to 79 from the previous 72, while the Extra Large and Large ECs decreased to 22 from 28 and 14 from 7, respectively.
Among the 11 Bicol electric cooperatives, FICELCO remained as an Extra Large EC, along with CASURECO I and CASURECO IV.
Classified as Mega Large are CANORECO, CASURECO II, CASURECO III, ALECO, SORECO I, SORECO II, and MASELCO, with TISELCO the smallest as Medium.
The details of the cooperatives’ performance ratings have yet to be released by NEA.