NEA, MORESCO 2 Commit to Rehabilitating Aging Powerlines to Reduce Outages in Misamis Oriental

The National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Misamis Oriental II Rural Electric Service Cooperative, Inc. (MORESCO 2) have pledged to repair and modernize the province’s aging powerlines, addressing one of the key causes of frequent electricity outages in Misamis Oriental. Speaking at the Misamis Oriental Power Consumers’ Forum in Gingoog City, NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda assured consumers that the rehabilitation of the province’s electricity distribution network is already underway, signaling a major step toward improving power reliability and ensuring uninterrupted service for communities.

Almeda acknowledged that MORESCO 2’s aging powerline backbone has been a persistent issue, leading to frequent disruptions in electricity supply. Through NEA’s ongoing support and intervention, the cooperative is now focused on upgrading its infrastructure to meet the increasing energy demands of households and businesses in the province.

NEA’s initiatives are aimed at enhancing system efficiency, reducing technical losses, and preventing prolonged outages, all of which have affected the region’s economic growth and daily operations.

During the forum, Almeda also outlined ongoing and upcoming programs aimed at modernizing power distribution infrastructure across the province. One of these initiatives is the Solar Photovoltaic Mainstreaming (PVM) system, which seeks to electrify off-grid households and schools that remain disconnected from the main power grid.

Apart from infrastructure upgrades, Almeda emphasized the importance of strong policy support for electric cooperatives (ECs). He called on local government officials to comply with the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Finance (DOF), which grants tax exemptions to ECs.

“May I request all the mayors who are here to comply with the joint memorandum circular? It would mean a lot for the cooperative,” he appealed, underscoring how tax relief can help ECs reallocate funds toward essential upgrades and services.

The event also saw participation from key energy stakeholders, including Gingoog City Mayor Erick Cañosa, APEC Party-list Rep. Sergio Dagooc, DOE Director Irma Exconde, and NEDA OIC Regional Director Richardson Cua, demonstrating a collaborative approach to solving power-related concerns in Misamis Oriental.