INEC completes 44th AGMA series

INEC 44^th AGMA. INEC general manager Engr. Felino Herbert P. Agdigos hands over the Certificate of Appreciation to NEA Board of Administrator member Agustin Maddato, who served as guest speaker during the 44^th AGMA at the Laoag City Centennial Arena on June 17, 2017. Witnessing the awarding are INEC board president Reynaldo “Rey” M. Lazo and other members of the INEC board. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Dingras, Ilocos Norte—The Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) completed its three-venue 44^th Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA) held in this town and in Laoag and Batac Cities on June 9, 17 and 24, 2018, respectively.

The AGMA primarily lets INEC officials meet with all INEC member-consumers for the presentation of accomplishment reports of the cooperative for the year 2017.

INEC also publishes its full report through its magazine, “Baggak”.

In the past, INEC scheduled just one AGMA; but to maximize attendance, it has since turned to sequential AGMA to help member-consumers facilitate their attendance. INEC usually holds them in the northern, eastern and southern parts of the province,

The guests of honor and speakers for the three AGMAs are: District 4 and 10 Multi Sectoral Electrification Advisory Council (MSEAC) chairpersons Dr. Jean Galat and Ms. Marjorie Baquiran, in Dingras; in Laoag, it was National Electrification Administration board of administrator member Agustin Maddatu; and in Batac, it was NEA deputy administrator for legal services Atty. Goldelio Rivera.

Mr. Maddatu, in his speech, congratulated INEC for again garnering the highest “Triple AAA category award” from NEA for 2017.

INEC general manager Engr. Felino Herbert P. Agdigos, in his manager’s report, meanwhile announced all the good news and accomplishments of INEC for the past year.

Mr. Agdigos also proudly announced the “Triple AAA category” that INEC received.

Under the technical category, Mr. Agdigos said the on-going rehabilitation of the Agua Grande Mini Hydro Power Plant at Brgy. Pansian in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, is now on 41-percent complete and now gives and supports the towns of Adams, Pagudpud and Bangui.

INEC also received PHP150 million, thru NEA, from the government of Korea. INEC became the first electric cooperative in the country to receive such donation. It will fund voltage rehabilitation in northern Ilocos Norte.

For a better and quality service, Mr. Agdigos also announced that INEC will implement Energy House Bill 3351, otherwise known as the “Anti Power Line Disturbance Act”. Congress, though, has yet to pass this bill.

He also said that INEC has 100 percent energized barangays and sitios in the province. But he also admitted that there are still residential houses without power. In this regard, he appealed to barangay officials to report to the nearest INEC office if there are still un-energized residence in their respective areas.

The INEC GM also saluted all meter readers, collectors and disconnectors for “garnering 100% collection efficiency” from NE.

Relative to this, he also announced that consumers can now pay their bills at 72 Bayad Centers, 25 Easy Pay and 37 Banks which INEC authorized to collect payments.

In the institutional report, Mr. Agdigos said INEC now has 142,668 member-consumers and 160,856 residences and establishments energized.

Aside from its radio program, INEC also conducts info tours and information drives in all the INEC districts.

To reach more people, INEC also plans to create its own social media page. This will enable more people to get more information from INEC, and at the same time give their suggestions and queries.