The Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) marked a crucial victory on June 3 as the Philippine Senate approved on second reading House Bill No. 10483, which seeks to renew BENECO’s franchise for another 25 years.
Cheers and quiet celebrations filled the BENECO South Drive office as the Board of Directors, led by Chairperson Atty. George Dumawing, Jr., and office-based employees monitored the Senate proceedings via livestream.
The passage of the bill on second reading—considered one of the most critical stages in the legislative process—boosted hopes for the measure’s final approval in the coming weeks.
“If you hurdle the second reading, the third reading will be easier,” said Dumawing, underscoring the significance of this legislative milestone.
House Bill 10483 grants BENECO the authority to continue operating and maintaining its electric distribution systems in Baguio City and the 13 municipalities of Benguet: Atok, Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Itogon, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, La Trinidad, Mankayan, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay.
The franchise renewal has been a top priority for BENECO General Manager Melchor Licoben since 2020, well ahead of the expiration of its current 50-year franchise in March 2028. Licoben, accompanied by BENECO department managers, personally attended the Senate session, while board members monitored it remotely.
The measure is the result of consolidated efforts in the lower house, where separate bills filed by Baguio representative Mark Go and Benguet representative Eric Go-Yap were merged into HB 10483.
The power bloc representatives in Congress, PhilRECA Partylist Presley De Jesus and APEC Partylist Sergio Dagooc, also helped lobby for votes in the House of Representatives.
HB 10483 passed the House in August 2024 with unanimous support—202 votes in favor and none against.
“Without our franchise, BENECO cannot continue to serve Baguio City and Benguet province no matter how hard we work to improve our services,” Licoben has often reminded employees in their monthly assemblies.
Despite the positive development, Dumawing urged cautious optimism, reminding employees to keep celebrations muted until the bill clears the third reading and secures the President’s signature.
Senator Rafael Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, endorsed the bill’s approval with minor, mostly clerical amendments. Dumawing expressed confidence that the bill would not face significant opposition.
“We hope the BENECO franchise gets the Senate’s final nod before the end of the current Congress. It’s part of a batch of bills—including those related to education—that the Senate may soon transmit to the President,” he added.
Dane Ducayag, president of EC-MCO United Inc.—a SEC-registered organization of BENECO’s member-consumer-owners (MCOs)—hailed the Senate’s move as a major win for community-driven energy.
“This is a significant victory for member-consumer-owners. It reaffirms the role of electric cooperatives in empowering rural communities and fostering inclusive economic growth,” Ducayag said.
Longtime BENECO supporter Beng Garcia, national convenor of Ilaw Philippines, echoed the sentiment: “We MCOs are happy the BENECO franchise has passed the second reading. We’ve remained watchful throughout this long process and continue to fully support our BENECO.”
With just one more Senate reading and the President’s approval remaining, the cooperative and its stakeholders are now cautiously optimistic that BENECO’s legacy of reliable, consumer-oriented energy service will continue for decades to come. (LSI)
