Bishop Cerilo Casicas of the Diocese of Marbel strongly criticized a new joint venture plan involving the utility provider. He explained that major corporate decisions should never be hidden from consumers who rely on electricity every day.
The issue started after the board of directors of the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative gave conditional approval to enter into a joint venture agreement with a private company called IGNITE Power. However, Bishop Casicas claimed that the cooperative leaders made this agreement without holding adequate public consultations.
The South Cotabato Catholic bishop strongly decried the board’s decision and claimed that the move lacked transparency and honesty. He warned that entering into a corporate partnership without public knowledge disregards the common good of the community. He added that electricity must always be treated as a vital public service that impacts local households, schools, public hospitals, and small livelihoods across South Cotabato.
To fix the issue, Casicas called for immediate public dialogues and structured information sessions between leaders and residents so that the member-consumer-owners have the freedom to ask tough questions and review verified business data regarding the partnership.
He then urged government officials and cooperative leaders to uphold accountability in all decision-making processes. “We demand that all decisions be protected from secrecy, misinformation, undue pressure, and personal interest, and that the cooperative remain accountable to its member-consumers,” Casicas said.
The bishop concluded his statement by encouraging the local community to remain vigilant but calm during the ongoing dispute, and warned citizens against spreading unverified claims, misinformation, and personal attacks online.