The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has confirmed the appointment of Engr. Francis A. Gianan as General Manager of the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) on a Performance Management Contract (PMC) basis for one (1) year effective January 15, 2024.
This was communicated by NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda in his Jan. 17. 2024 letter to FICELCO Board President Rodulfo B. Vargas, about a month after the board passed Resolution No. 235, Series of 2023, endorsing Gianan as GM and vesting in him all the authority to perform the day-to-day functions including those policy determining and discretionary in nature such as the power to hire, transfer, discipline and fire coop personnel.
The Board resolution also endorsed the former Technical Services Department Manager’s PMC to the NEA for approval.
His appointment to the cooperative’s top post came about a year after former GM Raul Zafe stepped down after reaching the compulsory retirement age of 65 in December 2022.
Gianan was chosen by the FICELCO board to serve as officer-in-charge of the cooperative beginning February 2023 and had to step aside after he applied for the GM post.
The most senior employee of the cooperative, he has been one of the key personnel of FICELCO for over 28 years and had studied Distribution Utility Economics and Power System Analysis including Load Flow, System Loss, Short Circuit and Reliability Analysis at the University of the Philippines with units earned in Master of Science in Electrical Engineering.
A holder of Master in Management graduate, he has been recognized as a Power System Expert due to his advanced studies, wide range of experience, exposure to technically challenging situations and proven competence in his field of specialization.
“As General Manager, I would boost my efforts to lead the cooperative to significant accomplishments without losing sight of its mandate of providing reliable, affordable and efficient service to the people of Catanduanes,” he vowed when he applied to the job.
Meanwhile, FICELCO was in the top five of off-grid electric cooperatives that offered the lowest residential power rates in the country last month, according to the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA).
Data gathered from 92 of 121 electric cooperatives showed FICELCO at No. 5 with a residential rate of P12.6460 per kilowatt-hour last December 2023.
At No. 1 was Marinduque Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MARELCO) with P9.3976/kwh, followed by Province of Siquijor EC (PROSIELCO) with P10.9348/kwh; Romblon EC (ROMELCO) with P11.3707/kwh; and Bantayan Island EC (BANELCO) with P11.5829/kwh.
PHILRECA attributed the reduced power rates to various factors, including decreased generation or transmission charges as well as the impact of ERC Resolution No. 14, Series of 2022, adopting the Revised Rules Governing the Automatic Cost Adjustment and True-up Mechanisms and Corresponding Confirmation Process for Distribution Utilities.
For January 2024, the power rates within the FICELCO service area are: Residential – ₱ 12.3504 per kwh + ₱ 5.60 (Metering Charge VAT-inclusive); Commercial – ₱ 8.7190 per kwh + ₱ 77.03 (Metering & Retail Customer Charge VAT-inclusive); Public Building – ₱ 8.6837 per kwh + ₱ 77.03 (Metering & Retail Customer Charge VAT-inclusive); and Street Light – ₱ 9.7040 per kwh + ₱ 77.03 (Metering & Retail Customer Charge VAT-inclusive).