AKELCO REFERENDUM AND ITS CONVERSION

AKELCO REFERENDUM AND ITS CONVERSION

Atty. Ariel Gepty informing members of the Aklan Media about the forthcoming referendum on AKELCO, while other officials listen in the presidential table.

Aklan Electric Cooperative (AKELCO) is scheduled to hold a referendum for the conversion of Akelco into either one of the three (3); 1. Akelco to remain as non-stock, non-profit electric cooperative under the National Electric Administration (NEA); 2. To convert Akelco into stock cooperative under the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA); and 3. To convert Akelco into stock corporation under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The schedule of the Referendum is on December 12, 2015 as announced by Atty. Ariel Gepty of the Akelco Board of Directors during the press conference held on September 28 in the Job Y. Besana Hall, Akelco, Lezo, Aklan.

The referendum is mandated by virtue of Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 and NEA Reform Act of 2013 or RA10531.

As per Akelco leaflet, conversion refers to a change in a corporate structure of an electric cooperative from non-stock, non-profit to either a stock cooperative or a stock corporation. On the other hand, Referendum is the electoral process where member-consumers register their votes, through secret balloting on the conversion options.

For the information of the consumer members, Akelco management has scheduled district meetings to discuss the benefits and disadvantages to the consumer members between and among the three (3) options mentioned above.

The schedule of District Meetings which Akelco is inviting consumer-members and all those interested persons to attend are as follows:

 District VI (Lezo & Malinao) October 7, 2015, 1:30 PM Job Y. Besana Hall, AKELCO Lezo, District V (Kalibo & Numancia) October 14, 2015, 1:30 PM DLRC, Kalibo Pilot Elem. School, District VII (New Wash & Batan) October 21, 2015, 1:30 PM Municipal Auditorium, Pob. New Washington, District IV (Makato & Tangalan) October 28, 2015, 1:30 PM Sports Complex, Pob. Tangalan, District III (Ibajay & Nabas) November 4, 2015, 1:30 PM Ibajay Central School, District II (Pandan & Libertad Antique) November 11, 2015, 1:30 PM Pandan Central School, District VII (Altavas & Balete) November 18, 2015, 1:30 PM Auditorium Pob. Balete, District I (Malay & Buruanga) November 25, 2015, 1:30 PM Malay Covered Court, District IX (Banga, Libacao, & Madalag) December 2, 2015, 1:30 PM Libacao Cultural Center, District X (Boracay) December 4, 2015, 1:30 PM Manoc-Manoc Covered Court. /MP