Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

.
House Bill No. 3253

Introduced by
Presley C. De Jesus, PhilRECA Party-List Representative
Sergio C. Dagooc, APEC Party-List Representative
Leody “Odie” F. Tarriela, Lone District, Occidental Mindoro Representative

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to grant a congressional franchise to Occidental Mindoro
Electric Cooperative, Inc. (OMECO) to provide an electric power distribution
system to the people of the Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan, Sablayan,
Sta. Cruz, Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan, all in the Province of Occidental
Mindoro.

OMECO was formally organized in 1974. On February 13, 1980,
pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 269, it was granted franchise to operate
an electric light and power service for a period of fifty (50) years by the National
Electrification Commission. From its initial coverage of four (4) municipalities
in the southern part of the province, OMECO has gradually acquired rights to
small-scale electric companies, consolidating power service delivery, and
expanding to energize the whole of Occidental Mindoro.

OMECO reached a historic milestone by earning the highest possible
NEA categorization: Category AAA, during the 2024 Electric Cooperative
Overall Performance Assessment and Size Classification conducted by the
National Electrification Administration. As an applicant for a legislative
franchise, OMECO possesses the technical, financial and institutional
capabilities to perform the electrification program in the municipalities
covered by their franchise area.


Granting this franchise will ensure the continuous supply of electricity
to the member-consumer-owners within OMECO’s franchise area. It will
enable the cooperative to continue with its mission of taking major role in the
socio-economic development of Occidental Mindoro by providing an
affordable, dependable, efficient and reliable electric service to its member-
consumer-owners.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

. PRESLEY C. DE JESUS REP. SERGIO C. DAGOOC
PhilRECA Party-List APEC Party-List

Lond District, Occidental Mindoro


Carvanewne

1

Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

.
House Bill No, 3253

Introduced by
Presley C. De Jesus, PhilRECA Party-List Representative
Sergio C. Dagooc, APEC Party-List Representative
Leody “Odie” F. Tarriela, Lone District, Occidental Mindoro Representative

AN ACT

GRANTING THE OCCIDENTAL MINDORO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE,

INC. (OMECO) 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 MUNICIPALITIES OF MAGSAYSAY, SAN JOSE, RIZAL, CALINTAAN,

SABLAYAN, STA. CRUZ, MAMBURAO, ABRA DE ILOG, PALUAN,
PROVINCE OF OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

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
provisions of the Constitution and applicable laws, rules and regulations,
there is hereby granted to the Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc.
(OMECO) hereunder referred to as the Grantee, its successors or assigns a
franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, own, manage and maintain
in the public interest and commercial purposes, a distribution system for the
conveyance of electric power to the end-users in the Municipalities of
Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan, Sablayan, Sta. Cruz, Mamburao, Abra
de Mog, Paluan, all in the Province of Occidental Mindoro.

As used in this Act, distribution system refers to the system of wires
and associated facilities including sub-transmission lines belonging to a


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franchised distribution utility extending between the delivery point on the
national transmission system or generating facility and the metering
point/facility of the end-users.

SEC. 2. Manner of Operation of Facilities. - All electric distribution
facilities, lines and systems for electric services installed, owned, maintained,
operated, managed by the Grantee, its successors or assigns shall be operated
or maintained at all times in a superior manner, and it shall be the duty of
the Grantee, its successors or assigns, whenever required to do so by the
Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), or its legal successor, or the
Department of Energy (DOE), or its legal successor, or any other government
agency concerned to modify, improve and change such facilities or systems in
such manner and to such extent as the progress in science or technology and
improvements or innovations in the electric power services may render
reasonable and proper.

Whenever practicable, and for purposes of maintaining order, safety
and aesthetics along the highways, roads, streets, alleys or right-of-way, the
Grantee may allow the use of free spaces in its poles, facilities, or right-of-way
by interested parties upon reasonable compensation to the Grantee
considering the costs incurred to accommodate and administer the use of the
Grantee’s facilities by such parties. The ERC shall decide in case of dispute
or disagreement between the parties.

SEC. 3. Authority of the ERC and NEA. - The Grantee shall secure
from the ERC or NEA any government agency having jurisdiction over their
operations, the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and any other
license, permit or authority indispensable for the construction and operation
of the electric power distribution system.

SEC. 4. Excavation and Restoration Works. — For the purpose of
erecting and maintaining the poles or other supports for said facilities, wires
or other conductors or for the purpose of laying and maintaining said
facilities, wires, cables or other conductors, it shall be lawful for the Grantee,
its successors, or assignees, in coordination with the Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH) or the local government unit (LGU) concerned,
as may be appropriate, to make excavations or lay conduits in any of the
public places, highways, road, streets, lanes, alleys, avenues, sidewalks, or
bridges of the province, cities or municipalities: Provided, however, That a
public place, highway, road, street, lane, alley, avenue, sidewalk, or bridge
disturbed, altered, or changed by reason of erection of poles or other supports
or the underground laying of wires, other conductors or conduits, shall be
repaired and replaced in workmanlike manner by the Grantee, its successors
or assignees, in accordance with the standards set by the DPWH or the local


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government unit concerned. Should the Grantee, its successors or assignees,
after the ten (10)-day notice from the grant of authority, fail, refuse or neglect
to repair or replace any part of public place, highway, road, street, lane, alley,
avenue, sidewalk, or bridge altered, changed or disturbed by the said Grantee,
its successors or assignees, then the DPWH or the local government unit
concerned shall have the right to have the same repaired and replaced in good
order and condition and charge the Grantee, its successors or assignees,
double the amount of the cost and expenses for such repair or replacement.

SEC. 5. Responsibility to the Public. - The Grantee shall supply
electricity to its captive market in the least costly manner. In the interest of
the public good and as far as feasible and whenever required by the ERC, the
Grantee shall modify, improve, or change its facilities, poles, lines, systems
and equipment for the purpose of providing efficient and reliable service and
reduced electricity costs. The Grantee shall charge reasonable and just power
rates for its services to all types of consumers within its franchised area in
order that business and industries shall be able to compete.

The Grantee shall have the obligation to provide open and
nondiscriminatory access to its distribution system and services for any end-
user within its franchise area consistent with Republic Act (RA) No. 9136,
otherwise known as the “Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001”. The
Grantee shall not engage in any activity that will constitute an abuse of
market power such as unfair trade practices, monopolistic schemes, and
other activities that will hinder competitiveness of business and industries.

SEC. 6. Rates for Services. — The retail rates and charges for the
distribution of electric power by the Grantee to its end-users shall be
regulated by and subject to the approval of the ERC or its legal successor.

The Grantee shall identify and segregate in its electricity bill to the end-
users the components of the retail rate pursuant to RA 9136, unless otherwise
amended. Such rates charged by the Grantee to the end-users shall be made
public and transparent. The Grantee shall implement lifeline rate to
marginalized end-users as mandated under RA 9136.

SEC. 7. Promotion of Consumer Interests. - The Grantee herein shall
establish a consumer desk that will handle consumer complaints and ensure
adequate promotion of consumer interests. The Grantee shall act with
dispatch on all complaints brought before it.

SEC. 8. Commitment to Provide and Promote the Creation of
Employment Opportunities. - The Grantee shall create employment
opportunities and shall allow on-the-job training in its franchise operation:


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Provided, That priority shall be accorded to the residents where their principal
office is located: Provided, further, That the Grantee shall comply with the
applicable labor standards and allowance entitlement under existing labor
laws, rules and regulations, and similar issuances.

SEC. 9. Right of the Government. - A special right is hereby reserved
to the President of the Philippines, in times of war, rebellion, public peril,
calamity, emergency, disaster or disturbance of peace and order: to
temporarily take over and operate the stations or facilities of the Grantee; to
temporarily suspend the operation of any station or facility in the interest of
public safety, security, and public welfare; or to authorize the temporary use
and operation thereof by any agency of the government, upon due
compensation to the Grantee, for the use of the stations or facilities during
the period when these shall be so operated.

SEC. 10. Right of Eminent Domain. — Subject to the limitations and
procedures prescribed by law, the Grantee is authorized to exercise the right
of eminent domain insofar as it may be reasonably necessary for the efficient
maintenance and operation of services. The Grantee is authorized to install
and maintain its poles, wires, and other facilities over and across public
property, including streets, highways, forest reserves, and other similar
property of the Government of the Philippines, its branches, or any of its
instrumentalities. The Grantee may acquire such private property as is
actually necessary for the realization of the purposes for which this franchise
is granted: Provided, That proper expropriation proceedings shall have been
instituted and just compensation paid.

SEC. 11. Term of Franchise. ~ Uniess sooner cancelled, the franchise
shall be in effect for a period of twenty-five (25) years from the date of
effectivity of this Act. This franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the
event the Grantee fails to operate continuously for two (2) years.

SEC. 12. Warranty in Favor of the National and Local
Governments. - The Grantee shall hold the national, provincial, city, and
municipal governments of the Philippines free from all claims, accounts,
demands, or actions arising from accidents causing injury to persons or
damage to properties, during the construction, installation, operation, and
maintenance of the distribution system of the Grantee.

SEC. 13. Liability for Damages. - The Grantee shall be liable for any
injury to persons and damage to properties arising from accidents by reason
of any defective construction under this franchise or of any neglect or
omission to keep its poles and wires in safe condition.


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SEC. 14. Sale, Lease, Transfer, Usufruct, or Assignment of
Franchise. - The Grantee shall not sell, lease, transfer, grant the usufruct,
or assign this franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder to
any person, firm, company, corporation, or other commercial or legal entity,
or merge with any other corporation, or entity, or shall transfer the controlling
interest of the Grantee, whether as a whole or in parts, and whether
simultaneously or contemporaneously, to any such person, firm, company,
corporation, or entity without the prior approval of the Congress: Provided,
‘That Congress shall be informed of any sale, lease, transfer, grant of usufruct,
sale, or assignment of franchise or the rights and privileges acquired
thereunder, or of the merger, or sale of the controlling interest within sixty
(60) days after the completion of said transaction: Provided, further, That any
such transfer, sale, or assignment is in accordance with the constitutional
limitations: Provided, furthermore, That failure to report to Congress such
change of ownership shall render the franchise ipso facto revoked: Provided,
finally, That any person or entity to which this franchise is sold, transferred,
or assigned, shall be subject to the same conditions, terms, restrictions, and
limitations of this Act.

SEC. 15. Reportorial Requirement. - The Grantee shall submit an
annual report to Congress, through the Committee on Legislative Franchises
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Public Services of the
Senate, on its compliance with the terms and conditions of the franchise and
on its operations on or before April 30 of every year during the term of the
franchise. The reportorial compliance certificate issued by Congress shall be
required before any application for permit or certificate is accepted by the
ERC.

SEC. 16. Fine. - The failure of the Grantee to submit the requisite
annual report to Congress shall be penalized by a fine in the amount of Five
hundred pesos (P500.00) per working day of noncompliance which shall be
collected by the ERC. The fine shall be collected separately from the
reportorial penalties imposed by the ERC and shall be remitted to the Bureau
of Treasury.

SEC. 17. Equality Clause. - Any advantage, favor, privilege,
exemption, or immunity granted under existing franchises, or which may
hereafter be granted, upon prior review and approval of Congress, shall
become part of this franchise and shall be accorded immediately and
unconditionally to the herein Grantee: Provided, however, That the foregoing
shall neither apply to nor affect provisions concerning territory covered by the
franchise, the life span of the franchise or the type of service authorized by
the franchise: Provided, further, That the foregoing shall not apply to the sale,


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lease, transfer, grant of usufruct, or assignment of legislative franchises with
prior congressional approval.

SEC. 18. Applicability of Existing Laws. - The Grantee shall comply
with and be subject to the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 146 or the
“Public Service Act”, as amended, RA 9136, and RA 10531 or the “National
Electrification Administration Reform Act of 2013.”

SEC. 19. Existing Powers. - Existing mandates, powers, functions,
and privileges granted to electric cooperatives under existing laws, including
Section 10 of RA 10531 shall remain valid and effective, unless expressly
repealed by succeeding laws.

SEC. 20. Repealability and Non-Exclusivity Clause. - This franchise
shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by Congress when the
public interest so requires and shall not be interpreted as an exclusive grant
of the privileges herein provided for.

SEC. 21. Separability Clause. — If any of the sections or provisions of
this Act is held invalid, all other provisions not affected thereby shall remain
valid.

SEC. 22. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, letters of instruction, administrative rules and regulations or parts
thereof which is are contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 23. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,