IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines โ The Sangguniang Bayan of Ipil, in a sharp display of local frustration over electricity governance in this corner of the Zamboanga Peninsula, sharply criticized leaders of the Zamboanga del Sur II Electric Cooperative on Wednesday for failing to appear before the municipal council during its 52nd Regular Session.
The municipal council formally invited Acting General Manager Atty. Jordanne B. Chan-Antonio to the session and respond to concerns from member-consumers over recent electricity bills, the alleged lack of actual field meter readings in several areas, and other issues that have fueled public debate on social media.
Council officials said the invitation was personally served to the cooperative. Despite this, Chan-Antonio did not attend, and no representative from ZAMSURECO II appeared before the legislative body.
Council members expressed dismay that invited representatives from the cooperative did not attend, despite what local officials described as prior coordination. The no-show, they said, hindered discussions on pressing issues affecting constituents, including service quality, billing concerns and infrastructure needs in a region still grappling with the challenges of electrification and economic development.
The absence of ZAMSURECO II officials prompted the passage of two resolutions. One of which calls on the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to immediately conduct a comprehensive financial, technical, institutional, and forensic investigation into the sustained deterioration of ZAMSURECO II’s financial condition. It also asks the ERC to determine whether to apply structural remedies under Republic Act No. 10531, also known as the National Electrification Administration Reform Act of 2013. The council will also furnish the National Electrification Administration (NEA) with a copy of the resolution.
The move underscores deepening tensions between local governments and electric cooperatives in rural Mindanao, where power reliability and affordability remain perennial concerns for residents and businesses.
Electric cooperatives like ZAMSURECO II, which serve municipalities across Zamboanga Sibugay and parts of neighboring provinces, including Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, are entities tasked with distributing power in areas often underserved by larger utilities. But they have faced recurring scrutiny over operational efficiency, system losses, compliance with reporting requirements, and mounting liabilities.
The ERC has previously issued show-cause orders to ZAMSURECO II regarding failures to submit required reports, such as voltage variation data, highlighting ongoing regulatory friction. Broader challenges in the sector, including power interruptions, maintenance backlogs and disputes over rates, have fueled consumer complaints in Mindanao.
Ipil, the capital of Zamboanga Sibugay province, sits at a strategic node where transmission lines and local distribution intersect. Recent advisories from the cooperative and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) have noted both scheduled and unscheduled outages affecting the area, often tied to line maintenance or faults along corridors like the IpilโSirawai or IpilโSalug lines.
ZAMSURECO II has not publicly commented on the councilโs criticisms as of Thursday. The cooperative, like others in the region, periodically updates consumers on rate adjustments and power interruptions via social media, but deeper financial disclosures typically fall under ERC purview.
The episode comes against a backdrop of national efforts to stabilize the power sector. Electric cooperatives nationwide have contended with rising generation costs, infrastructure demands and the push toward greater transparency and competition. In Zamboanga provinces, neighboring cooperatives have also drawn attention for billing disputes, disconnections and financial strains.
The stakes are immediate for residents of Ipil and surrounding areas. Reliable and affordable electricity underpins everything from household needs to small enterprises and agricultural operations in this predominantly rural setting. Local officials appear intent on leveraging their platform to press for improvements.
As the ERC may weigh the councilโs call for an in-depth review, the case highlights a familiar dynamic in Philippine local governance: municipal councils using resolutions and public sessions to amplify constituent grievances and prod higher authorities into action. It remains to be seen how the regulatory body responds to the local council’s requests.
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