(Taguig City). The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) signed today (10 July) a circular to guide electric cooperatives on a unified mechanism concerning relocation of their power facilities affected by government construction.
The DOE-DPWH Joint Circular prescribes uniform guidelines and procedures for the proper payment of compensation and/or recovery of cost in the event of the need to relocate the distribution/subtransmission lines of electric cooperatives.
At the signing of the Joint Circular along with DPWH Undersecretary Karen Jimeno, representing DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said: “We have to address situations where the facilities of electric cooperatives need to be relocated due to government projects, such as road-widening, bridge construction, among others, and provide a unified mechanism for reasonable compensation to them for every affected facility.”
“This joint initiative is in cognizance of the need to provide continuous, adequate and reliable electricity services to consumers while government projects are underway,” Cusi pointed out.
Based on the Circular, the government agency implementing a public works project shall coordinate during program planning with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Electric Cooperatives to address all right-of-way concerns related to the affected facility, including claims for compensation and determination of relocation sites.
It also provides an appropriate formula in the determination of proper compensation to the electric cooperative for the cost of the removal of affected facility.
“With this Joint Circular, we will be able to accelerate and expand access to electricity services by our people,” the Energy Chief concluded. ###doeph
