Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
       House Bill No.  3080 
Introduced by  
Presley C. De Jesus, PhilRECA Party-List 
Sergio C. Dagooc, APEC Party-List  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The National Electrification Commission, by virtue of the Presidential Decree 
No. 269 dated, issued Certificate of Franchise No. 024 to Pangasinan I Electric 
Cooperative (PANELCO I) to operate an electric light and power service for a 
period of fifty (50) years beginning January 8, 1979. The franchise area 
covered the municipalities of Agno, Anda, Bani, Burgos, Bolinao, Dasol, 
Alaminos, Infanta and Mabini. 
On June 8, 2001, Republic Act No. 9136, otherwise known as the “Electric 
Power Industry Reform Act of 2001”, was approved. Section 57 Chapter VII of 
the Act provided Electric Cooperatives the option to convert into either stock 
cooperatives under the Cooperatives Development Act or Stock Corporation 
under the Corporation Code. PANELCO I was permanently registered with the 
Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) on July 19, 2006. 
PANELCO I’s vision is to be a leading electric distribution utility of service 
excellence in Pangasinan under a competitive business by 2027.  Its mission 
is to lead in providing efficient, reliable and safe electric services at the least 
cost in pursuant for total electrification, industrialization and consumers’ 
satisfaction. True to its mission and vision, PANELCO I was among the top 
five (5) electric cooperatives that offered the lowest residential rates on-grid 
for March 2024, January 2024 and December 2023 as reported by the 
Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association. 
PANELCO I is recognized by NEA as category AAA cooperative, the highest 
August 5, 2025
1:04 pm


performance rating granted to EC’s for complying all the standard parameters. 
It is also classified as Mega Large cooperative and a consistent recipient of 
awards from various regulatory agencies. The status of energization is 100% 
for barangay level and 96.98% for consumer connection. The number of 
consumers billed as of December 2023 is 90,132 and  total sales in kilowatt 
hour of 165 million.  
PANELCO I regularly conducts assessment of its distribution system together 
with the determination of feasible and optimal solutions for its member 
consumers. The cooperative’s roadmap includes its plans to apply for ISO 
Certification, implement information system integration and Supervisory 
Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and secure license as a Retail 
Electricity Supplier.  
PANELCO I is a direct member of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market 
(WESM), with existing Contract for the Supply of Electric Energy with the 
Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM). It is 
currently undertaking Competitive Selection Process for its base load 
requirement and negotiation process for its Renewable Portfolio Standard 
requirement. 
To ensure continuous delivery of service to the member-consumers of 
PANELCO I in the City of Alaminos and Municipalities of Agno, Anda, Bani, 
Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta and Mabini, all in the Province of Pangasinan, 
this bill seeks to grant PANELCO I a legislative franchise to continue operating 
its distribution system for another 25 years.  
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this proposed measure is earnestly 
sought. 
REP. PRESLEY C. DE JESUS 
    REP. SERGIO C. DAGOOC 
PhilRECA Party-List 
    APEC Party-List 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
       House Bill No.  3080 
Introduced by  
Presley C. De Jesus, PhilRECA Party-List 
Sergio C. Dagooc, APEC Party-List  
AN ACT 
GRANTING THE PANGASINAN I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. 
(PANELCO I) A FRANCHISE TO CONSTRUCT, INSTALL, ESTABLISH, 
OPERATE, OWN, MANAGE AND MAINTAIN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS FOR 
THE CONVEYANCE OF ELECTRIC POWER TO THE END-USERS IN THE 
CITY OF ALAMINOS AND MUNICIPALITIES OF AGNO, ANDA, BANI, 
BOLINAO, BURGOS, DASOL, INFANTA, AND MABINI, PROVINCE OF 
PANGASINAN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic 
of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Nature and Scope of Franchise. – Subject to the
1 
provisions of the Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations, 
2 
there is hereby granted to the Pangasinan I Electric Cooperative (PANELCO I), 
3 
hereunder referred to as the Grantee, its successors or assigns a franchise to 
4 
construct, install, establish, operate, own, manage and maintain in the public 
5 
interest and commercial purposes, a distribution system for the conveyance 
6 
of electric power to the end-users in the City of Alaminos and Municipalities 
7 
of Agno, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta, and Mabini, Province of 
8 
Pangasinan. 
9 
As used in this Act, distribution system refers to the system of wires 
10 
and associated facilities including sub-transmission lines belonging to a 
11 
franchised distribution utility extending between the delivery point on the 
12 


 
 
national transmission system or generating facility and the metering 
1 
point/facility of the end-users. 
2 
 
SEC. 2. Manner of Operation of Facilities. – All electric distribution 
3 
facilities, lines and systems for electric services installed, owned, maintained, 
4 
operated, managed by the Grantee, its successors or assigns shall be operated 
5 
or maintained at all times in a superior manner, and it shall be the duty of 
6 
the Grantee, its successors or assigns, whenever required to do so by the 
7 
Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), or its legal successor, or the 
8 
Department of Energy (DOE), or its legal successor, or any other government 
9 
agency concerned to modify, improve and change such facilities or systems in 
10 
such manner and to such extent as the progress in science or technology and 
11 
improvements or innovations in the electric power services may render 
12 
reasonable and proper. 
13 
 
Whenever practicable, and for purposes of maintaining order, safety 
14 
and aesthetics along the highways, roads, streets, alleys or right-of-way, the 
15 
Grantee may allow the use of free spaces in its poles, facilities, or right-of-way 
16 
by interested parties upon reasonable compensation to the Grantee 
17 
considering the costs incurred to accommodate and administer the use of the 
18 
Grantee’s facilities by such parties.  The ERC shall decide in case of dispute 
19 
or disagreement between the parties. 
20 
 
SEC. 3. Authority of the ERC and NEA. – The Grantee shall secure 
21 
from the ERC or NEA any government agency having jurisdiction over their 
22 
operations, the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and any other 
23 
license, permit or authority indispensable for the construction and operation 
24 
of the electric power distribution system.  
25 
 
SEC. 4. Excavation and Restoration Works. – For the purpose of 
26 
erecting and maintaining the poles or other supports for said facilities, wires 
27 
or other conductors or for the purpose of laying and maintaining said 
28 
facilities, wires, cables or other conductors, it shall be lawful for the Grantee, 
29 
its successors, or assignees, in coordination with the Department of Public 
30 
Works and Highways (DPWH) or the local government unit (LGU) concerned, 
31 
as may be appropriate, to make excavations or lay conduits in any of the 
32 
public places, highways, road, streets, lanes, alleys, avenues, sidewalks, or 
33 
bridges of the province, cities or municipalities: Provided, however, That a 
34 
public place, highway, road, street, lane, alley, avenue, sidewalk, or bridge 
35 
disturbed, altered, or changed by reason of erection of poles or other supports 
36 
or the underground laying of wires, other conductors or conduits, shall be 
37 
repaired and replaced in workmanlike manner by the Grantee, its successors 
38 
or assignees, in accordance with the standards set by the DPWH or the local 
39 
government unit concerned.  Should the Grantee, its successors or assignees, 
40 


 
 
after the ten (10)-day notice from the grant of authority, fail, refuse or neglect 
1 
to repair or replace any part of public place, highway, road, street, lane, alley, 
2 
avenue, sidewalk, or bridge altered, changed or disturbed by the said Grantee, 
3 
its successors or assignees, then the DPWH or the local government unit 
4 
concerned shall have the right to have the same repaired and replaced in good 
5 
order and condition and charge the Grantee, its successors or assignees, 
6 
double the amount of the cost and expenses for such repair or replacement. 
7 
 
SEC. 5. Responsibility to the Public. – The Grantee shall supply 
8 
electricity to its captive market in the least costly manner.  In the interest of 
9 
the public good and as far as feasible and whenever required by the ERC, the 
10 
Grantee shall modify, improve, or change its facilities, poles, lines, systems 
11 
and equipment for the purpose of providing efficient and reliable service and 
12 
reduced electricity costs.  The Grantee shall charge reasonable and just power 
13 
rates for its services to all types of consumers within its franchised area in 
14 
order that business and industries shall be able to compete. 
15 
 
The Grantee shall have the obligation to provide open and 
16 
nondiscriminatory access to its distribution system and services for any end-
17 
user within its franchise area consistent with Republic Act (RA) No. 9136, 
18 
otherwise known as the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001”.  The 
19 
Grantee shall not engage in any activity that will constitute an abuse of 
20 
market power such as unfair trade practices, monopolistic schemes, and 
21 
other activities that will hinder competitiveness of business and industries. 
22 
 
SEC. 6. Rates for Services. – The retail rates and charges for the 
23 
distribution of electric power by the Grantee to its end-users shall be 
24 
regulated by and subject to the approval of the ERC or its legal successor. 
25 
 
The Grantee shall identify and segregate in its electricity bill to the end-
26 
users the components of the retail rate pursuant to RA 9136, unless otherwise 
27 
amended.  Such rates charged by the Grantee to the end-users shall be made 
28 
public and transparent. The Grantee shall implement lifeline rate to 
29 
marginalized end-users as mandated under RA 9136. 
30 
 
SEC. 7.  Promotion of Consumer Interests. – The Grantee herein shall 
31 
establish a consumer desk that will handle consumer complaints and ensure 
32 
adequate promotion of consumer interests. The Grantee shall act with 
33 
dispatch on all complaints brought before it. 
34 
 
SEC. 8. Commitment to Provide and Promote the Creation of 
35 
Employment Opportunities. – The Grantee shall create employment 
36 
opportunities and shall allow on-the-job training in its franchise operation: 
37 
Provided, That priority shall be accorded to the residents where their principal 
38 


 
 
office is located: Provided, further, That the Grantee shall comply with the 
1 
applicable labor standards and allowance entitlement under existing labor 
2 
laws, rules and regulations, and similar issuances. 
3 
 
SEC. 9.  Right of the Government. – A special right is hereby reserved 
4 
to the President of the Philippines, in times of war, rebellion, public peril, 
5 
calamity, emergency, disaster or disturbance of peace and order: to 
6 
temporarily take over and operate the stations or facilities of the Grantee; to 
7 
temporarily suspend the operation of any station or facility in the interest of 
8 
public safety, security, and public welfare; or to authorize the temporary use 
9 
and operation thereof by any agency of the government, upon due 
10 
compensation to the Grantee, for the use of the stations or facilities during 
11 
the period when these shall be so operated. 
12 
 
SEC. 10.  Right of Eminent Domain. – Subject to the limitations and 
13 
procedures prescribed by law, the Grantee is authorized to exercise the right 
14 
of eminent domain insofar as it may be reasonably necessary for the efficient 
15 
maintenance and operation of services.  The Grantee is authorized to install 
16 
and maintain its poles, wires, and other facilities over and across public 
17 
property, including streets, highways, forest reserves, and other similar 
18 
property of the Government of the Philippines, its branches, or any of its 
19 
instrumentalities.  The Grantee may acquire such private property as is 
20 
actually necessary for the realization of the purposes for which this franchise 
21 
is granted: Provided, That proper expropriation proceedings shall have been 
22 
instituted and just compensation paid. 
23 
 
SEC. 11. Term of Franchise. – Unless sooner cancelled, the franchise 
24 
shall be in effect for a period of twenty-five (25) years from the date of 
25 
effectivity of this Act.  This franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the 
26 
event the Grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years. 
27 
 
SEC. 12. Warranty in Favor of the National and Local 
28 
Governments. – The Grantee shall hold the national, provincial, city, and 
29 
municipal governments of the Philippines free from all claims, accounts, 
30 
demands, or actions arising from accidents causing injury to persons or 
31 
damage to properties, during the construction, installation, operation, and 
32 
maintenance of the distribution system of the Grantee. 
33 
 
SEC. 13. Liability for Damages. – The Grantee shall be liable for any 
34 
injury to persons and damage to properties arising from accidents by reason 
35 
of any defective construction under this franchise or of any neglect or 
36 
omission to keep its poles and wires in safe condition. 
37 
 
SEC. 14. Sale, Lease, Transfer, Usufruct, or Assignment of 
38 


 
 
Franchise. – The Grantee shall not sell, lease, transfer, grant the usufruct, 
1 
or assign this franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder to 
2 
any person, firm, company, corporation, or other commercial or legal entity, 
3 
or merge with any other corporation, or entity, or shall transfer the controlling 
4 
interest of the Grantee, whether as a whole or in parts, and whether 
5 
simultaneously or contemporaneously, to any such person, firm, company, 
6 
corporation, or entity without the prior approval of the Congress: Provided, 
7 
That Congress shall be informed of any sale, lease, transfer, grant of usufruct, 
8 
sale, or assignment of franchise or the rights and privileges acquired 
9 
thereunder, or of the merger, or sale of the controlling interest within sixty 
10 
(60) days after the completion of said transaction: Provided, further, That any 
11 
such transfer, sale, or assignment is in accordance with the constitutional 
12 
limitations: Provided, furthermore, That failure to report to Congress such 
13 
change of ownership shall render the franchise ipso facto revoked: Provided, 
14 
finally, That any person or entity to which this franchise is sold, transferred, 
15 
or assigned, shall be subject to the same conditions, terms, restrictions, and 
16 
limitations of this Act. 
17 
 
SEC. 15. Reportorial Requirement. – The Grantee shall submit an 
18 
annual report to Congress, through the Committee on Legislative Franchises 
19 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Public Services of the 
20 
Senate, on its compliance with the terms and conditions of the franchise and 
21 
on its operations on or before April 30 of every year during the term of the 
22 
franchise.  The reportorial compliance certificate issued by Congress shall be 
23 
required before any application for permit or certificate is accepted by the 
24 
ERC. 
25 
 
SEC. 16. Fine. – The failure of the Grantee to submit the requisite 
26 
annual report to Congress shall be penalized by a fine in the amount of Five 
27 
hundred pesos (P500.00) per working day of noncompliance which shall be 
28 
collected by the ERC. The fine shall be collected separately from the 
29 
reportorial penalties imposed by the ERC and shall be remitted to the Bureau 
30 
of Treasury.  
31 
 
SEC. 17. Equality Clause. – Any advantage, favor, privilege, 
32 
exemption, or immunity granted under existing franchises, or which may 
33 
hereafter be granted, upon prior review and approval of Congress, shall 
34 
become part of this franchise and shall be accorded immediately and 
35 
unconditionally to the herein Grantee: Provided, however, That the foregoing 
36 
shall neither apply to nor affect provisions concerning territory covered by the 
37 
franchise, the life span of the franchise or the type of service authorized by 
38 
the franchise: Provided, further, That the foregoing shall not apply to the sale, 
39 
lease, transfer, grant of usufruct, or assignment of legislative franchises with 
40 


 
 
prior congressional approval. 
1 
 
 SEC. 18. Applicability of Existing Laws. – The Grantee shall comply 
2 
with and be subject to the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 146 or the 
3 
“Public Service Act”, as amended, RA 9136, and RA 10531 or the “National 
4 
Electrification Administration Reform Act of 2013.” 
5 
 
SEC. 19. Existing Powers. – Existing mandates, powers, functions, 
6 
and privileges granted to electric cooperatives under existing laws, including 
7 
Section 10 of RA 10531 shall remain valid and effective, unless expressly 
8 
repealed by succeeding laws. 
9 
 
SEC. 20. Repealability and Non-Exclusivity Clause. – This franchise 
10 
shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by Congress when the 
11 
public interest so requires and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant 
12 
of the privileges herein provided for. 
13 
SEC. 21. Separability Clause. – If any of the sections or provisions of 
14 
this Act is held invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain 
15 
valid. 
16 
 
SEC. 22. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
17 
orders, letters of instruction, administrative rules and regulations or parts 
18 
thereof which is are contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
19 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
20 
 
SEC. 23. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
21 
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
22 
circulation. 
23 
Approved, 
24