As the most qualified and eminently suited for the job as FICELCO director, Atty. Raul V. Angeles of Panganiban town would likely steer the discussion of issues inside the board.
Considering his background as an executive director of the Board of Investments (BOI) as well as his profession as lawyer, he has the opportunity to really look into existing power supply contracts entered into by previous boards with generation companies and verify if there are provisions that are disadvantageous to the cooperative and its member-consumer-owners (MCOs).
Of the 10 priorities he listed on his social media post last Jan. 18, 2026, at least half are doable within a reasonable time frame once he assumed office along with the three other newly elected directors.
Four others will either need a lot of waiting, backing from Malacanang and/or considerable funding before they could be realized: placing distribution lines underground (cost would be enormous), priority for renewable energy (needs private investors), connection to the main Luzon grid (NGCP timetable is six years away), and reacquisition of Balongbong Hydro (requires Malacanang blessing).
His actions within the board would be closely monitored by MCOs, particularly those who have seen in the past two decades how previous directors have all too willingly ‘cooperated’ with power suppliers.
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Political observers are expecting the ‘alliance’ between Governor Patrick Alain T. Azanza and Congressman Eulogio R. Rodriguez, which blossomed during the 2025 campaign against common enemies, to unravel in the following months.
It has been reported that the chief executive and his trusted consultant have visited the DPWH Catanduanes District Engineering Office to inform OIC-District Engineer Vivian Biaco that he (Azanza) has secured funding for several billions worth of infrastructure projects which would be implemented by the district.
Like the previous solons and colleagues in the Lower House, each congressman treats the DPWH district office as his own fiefdom: deciding who gets what contract and who gets promoted.
Unlike what happened in the past decades, most of the present solons now consider all projects being implemented by the DPWH in the district as theirs regardless of who secured the funding.
That’s why in the recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe into the flood control projects, the practice of congressmen demanding “parking fee” from contractors of projects ‘identified’ by senators or partylist solons came up.
There are even reports that the solon’s reach has expanded from just the infra projects to even supply contracts of the DPWH district office’s own MOOE funds.
Even assuming that from each contract each congressman gets only 15 percent (which is on the low side), more than enough cash is accumulated to ensure victory in each election.
If indeed the funding for Azanza’s projects reach DPWH Catanduanes, local contractors would be watching who gets the usual SOP.
Abangan!!!
*****
THE GUILTY THIEF. The judge glared down at the exhausted-looking fellow being supported by two police officers.
“Do I understand correctly that you plead guilty to having broken into Darlene’s Fine Fashions on Erie Boulevard?”
“Yes, Your Honor.” The thief hung his head. “My wife needed a dress for her sister’s wedding.”
The judge conferred with the arresting officer and turned back to the defendant.
“But it says here you broke in four nights in a row. Can you tell the court why such excess was called for?”
“She made me return the first three,” explained the man miserably.