As of 5 PM of Oct. 28, 2024, the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) has restored power to 289 out of the 315 barangays in the province, less than a week after it cut the supply at midnight of Oct. 22 as a preventive measure during the Tropical Storm “Kristine.”
According to the latest report, this covers 94 percent, or 57,128, of the total 60,589 consumer connections.
Now enjoying electricity in all their barangays are seven of the 11 towns: Baras, Bato, Caramoran, Gigmoto, Pandan, San Andres and San Miguel.
The other four municipalities still have a few villages left to be energized by crews of the cooperative which have been working tirelessly under direction of GM Francis Gianan and the Board of Directors since the morning of Oct. 23: Bagamanoc, 83% (3 barangays for restoration); Panganiban, 70% (7 barangays); Viga, 52% (15 barangays); and Virac, 98% (1 barangay).
Through the board headed by President Rodulfo Vargas, FICELCO has granted a three-day extension for the payment of electric bills for October without penalty, in consideration of the recent calamity that affected many member-consumer-owners. Customers may refer to the due date indicated in the Notice of Billing as reference for the three-day extension.
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“Neutrality: we take initiatives but never sides.”
As one of the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross Movement, these seven words are among those read by directors of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Catanduanes Chapter at the start of their monthly board meeting.
These words summarize the full text of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (IFRC) on the third principle: “In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.”
Not a few members of the Board of the local Red Cross chapter recalled the very same words when they saw several posts of former Catanduanes State University president Patrick Alain T. Azanza wearing a Red Cross uniform during relief operations of Tabang Catanduanes.
As I have been an elected member of the board since 2000, I have always believed that the Red Cross uniform is to be worn only during board meetings, Red Cross events either here or elsewhere, or in other activities where the Red Cross has been invited to send official representatives.
Azanza, who filed his Certificate of Candidacy for provincial governor on Oct. 8, 2024, was considered automatically resigned from his post as of 8 AM that morning.
Thus, his appointment as ex-officio director has already expired.
A possible reason for still wearing that uniform – his having been a director of the Quezon City chapter – is likewise no longer valid as his term had expired years ago.
So, why is he dragging the good name and reputation of the Red Cross into local politics and a relief operation that is not even remotely connected to the local Red Cross chapter?
Did he decide to wear the Red Cross jacket, as claimed, so he could insinuate himself into the privately organized relief effort as an added socmed exposure?
It doesn’t take much imagination for the public to see that the former CatSU president is hitching on the Tabang Catanduanes project to raise his profile in preparation for the 2025 elections.
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THE PASSWORD. A customer walks into a coffee shop and asks the barista for the wifi password.
“You need to buy coffee first,” the barista says.
“Okay, I’ll have an espresso,” the customer says.
After paying, the customer asks, “Can I have the password now?”
The barista replies, “Of course! It’s ‘youneedtobuycoffeefirst’. All lowercase, no spaces.”