Corporate Social Responsibility Cotabato Light Sustainability

LGU, Cotabato Light sign MOA to fight pilferage, fire

December 21, 2017

COTABATO CITY – The local government of Cotabato City and Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato Light), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation, recently launched Project Tatsulok, a campaign to help stop electric pilferage, to promote fire prevention, and to train locals to become electricians.

Tatsulok (triangle) refers to three groups that composed the project – Cotabato Light, Cotabato City government and the “Liga ng mga Barangay” (Association of Village chairpersons). The project aims to address at least three areas that concern public safety including fire prevention, pilferage prevention, and to improve the power company's services to its clients.

“We are truly excited about this project and the partnership with the local government. While we continue to deliver service to our customers, we also remain committed in fulfilling the Aboitiz group’s promise to help advance its communities” Cotabato Light Assistant Vice President and General Manager Judy C. Sanchez said after the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on November 9, 2017 at SouthSeas Mall convention center. Also present during the MOA signing event was Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi who represented the City of Cotabato together with 37 village chairpersons of Cotabato City.

Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi posted on her FB page that the city government is determined to continue eradicating illegal acts in the city, especially pilferage or illegal tapping (of electricity) that causes fire and conflagration.

“We signed a MOA with Cotabato Light to help eradicate pilferage and unnecessary power interruption due to illegal tapping,” Sayadi said in Filipino.

She said under the project, the city government and the barangay government will help monitor and prevent illegal connections in their respective locality.

“Local officials will report to Cotabato Light any illegal electrical connection in the barangay. Cotabato Light will disconnect and penalize violators” Sayadi added.

“Tatsulok” also has supporting programs that will benefit both the program proponent and the beneficiaries. This includes Kasangga Program, Oplan PBA, and BEST CAP.

Under the “Kasangga program,” the Barangay government will endorse two potential electricians to be trained by TESDA for 15 days, targeting National Certificate (NC II) licensed after schooling. Once completed, they will eventually become barangay electricians, also known as “Kasangga electricians.”

Another “Tatsulok” supporting program is “Oplan PBA” (Punong Barangay Awards), a Cotabato Light program to recognize Punong Barangay advocating anti-pilferage in his or her constituents. In order to become a recipient of “Oplan PBA,” there must be zero-pilferage case in his area of jurisdiction and must be consistent for at least six consecutive months.

Cotabato Light will also declare a village “Pilferage-free” after choosing the chairperson as Oplan PBA awardee.

Lastly, supporting “Tatsulok” is Cotabato Light’s “BEST CAP,” an acronym for “Barangay Electrician Skills Training Competency-building Anti-pilferage Project.”

To avail of this supporting program, the village chair should be an “Oplan PBA” awardee to qualify. The village chair has the privilege to choose from his constituents potential scholars to study with TESDA as electricians. Cotabato Light will shoulder the cost, will provide allowance and complete set of tools for the trade.

Added to all these are other community development projects that the Aboitiz firm will introduce in collaboration with partners.