MAKATI CITY – The chairman of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has assured consumers of the Pampanga Electric Cooperative II (Pelco II) of improved and better services.
Manuel V. Pangilinan said Pelco II will be overhauled starting with the putting up of a professional management team.
Meralco and its local partner Coms-Tech, led by its president and CEO Dennis Anthony Uy, have taken over the management and operations of the ailing electric cooperative at the start of the month. Pangilinan made the assurance as he met with Pampanga journalists shortly after the annual PLDT Stockholders Meeting the Shangri-La Hotel here last week.
The Meralco chair said Pelco II will be establishing better interconnection facilities and substations to the national grid.
“We have to put up better poles and wiring and internet connection by fiber,” he said. The laying of underground fiber is also being considered, Pangilinan said, just like what they already did in parts of Leyte and northern Cebu.
“We’re laying the fiber underground already. But in Pampanga we will do it slowly,” he added. “We have a big investment in Pelco II so consumers should expect improvement. People should look forward to a lot of changes,” he stressed.
When asked if power rates will be jacked up, Pangilinan said, “we have to work within the approved distribution charge.” Pelco II distributes electricity to Mabalacat City and the towns of Guagua, Bacolor, Sta. Rita, Lubao, and Porac in Pampanga.
Meanwhile, Pangilinan said it is important to find a suitable business in Pampanga. “Even if we have water and electricity, we have to find a business indigenous to Pampanga,” he said.
“If this is agriculture, we’re even looking into the planting of rice,” Pangilinan said. “We are interested in that area in Candaba but we have to commercialize it. If we plant palay we could start with 1,000 hectares for a start,” he said.
“Pampanga has to find its commercial reasons. Ano ba ang magagawa sa Pampanga ng mga negosyante? (What can businessmen do in Pampanga?)” he asked. The acknowledged business tycoon said Pampanga could also be a “trading hub especially Angeles City as well as an educational center and sports complex.”
