The discovery of fire was a turning point (picture the cavemen’s reaction). Yet the discovery of electricity was, as it is, “electrifying”... Just imagine our lives today without it... And yet, we don’t really feel “electrified” considering we’re so accustomed to its actuality apparently reckoned as an overfamiliar necessity.
Today, fire is as useful; yet electricity is a “sure-fire” means to light up our lives... True enough, electricity is a manifestation of progress. And as indeed so, Baguio/Benguet, through BENECO (Benguet Electric Cooperative) as its electricity service provider, is as fortunate.
You see as above-implied, we apparently overlook such essential to simply rely on it as some “regular convenience” taken for granted with a bit of an overbearing inclination as it’s nevertheless a service that’s paid for... Lest we fail to appreciate the functionality in all its entirety. We only know BENECO as the service provider who charges us nonetheless and the receiving-end of related complaints and backlash.
Yup, guilty as “charged” (pun intended)... Speaking of which, do you know that our “current” rate here per kWh is one if not the cheapest across the nation? It is... and yet we actually get more service than what’s billed. At times if not often however, we even complain about a hefty bill which in point of fact is due to our own consumption. Whereas for the “system loss” charge, we also have the lowest all over the country.
While we may see how BENECO is benefiting from all of these, they’re in fact focused on the provision of public service being a non-stock/non-profit entity more than anything else. Their investment on some state of the art equipment and assets are likewise for better service. A sense of pride for the constituency/community in general actually as our BENECO has been awarded for pioneering such breakthrough among other electric companies. They’ve been likewise cited for their other extra service ~ from their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs like providing basic education among the less fortunate to the installation of street lights and donation of high-end CCTV cameras to the city among their many other notable projects ~ past, ongoing or in the offing.
Come to think of it, considering these developments, charges upon us are quite negligible compared to that of other areas. There seems to be no “return of investments” for a cost that they have to pass on to us. Try to assume how heavy that’ll be for consumers if, say, BENECO has been privatized by some firm having to worry about ROI for the investors’ capital... Chances are, it’s going to be “shock wave” for a ripple effect of which such burden will be alleviated at the expense of consumerism.
This said, BENECO has come up with a consumer empowerment program wherein we have a voice. As a matter of fact, we have been consumed by whatever it is that kept us preoccupied to the point we don’t get to participate in the affairs of the cooperative supposedly involving us. Again, guilty as charged. Anyone among you who has voted for BENECO’s BOD for instance? --- Yeah right!
Thus, it was worth the time having been invited to their Member Consumer Empowerment Program orientation. Quite aptly, I was “enLIGHTened” out of my naivety on matters pertaining to who as much as what BENECO is to us. From when complaints from consumers where justifiable up until they stood up to the challenge, got their acts together and live up to their calling. From the management to the linemen, their service-oriented dedication is “a beam of light that keeps us out of the dark-age” so to speak.
By this, I’m rediscovering fire... the fire in me as a consumer to likewise “light up the torch” if only to pass on this little knowledge (for now) to hopefully ignite your senses as to be in-the-know and to be more involved... fire up that appreciation... inflame our awareness... kindle openhandedness... spark that support for BENECO as their franchise contract’s end is drawing near and, most likely not far behind, interested private enterprises are on the prowl... Let there be no “dark kind of power interruption”... Let not our caves cave-in... Let there be light!
Now we know...
Today, fire is as useful; yet electricity is a “sure-fire” means to light up our lives... True enough, electricity is a manifestation of progress. And as indeed so, Baguio/Benguet, through BENECO (Benguet Electric Cooperative) as its electricity service provider, is as fortunate.
You see as above-implied, we apparently overlook such essential to simply rely on it as some “regular convenience” taken for granted with a bit of an overbearing inclination as it’s nevertheless a service that’s paid for... Lest we fail to appreciate the functionality in all its entirety. We only know BENECO as the service provider who charges us nonetheless and the receiving-end of related complaints and backlash.
Yup, guilty as “charged” (pun intended)... Speaking of which, do you know that our “current” rate here per kWh is one if not the cheapest across the nation? It is... and yet we actually get more service than what’s billed. At times if not often however, we even complain about a hefty bill which in point of fact is due to our own consumption. Whereas for the “system loss” charge, we also have the lowest all over the country.
While we may see how BENECO is benefiting from all of these, they’re in fact focused on the provision of public service being a non-stock/non-profit entity more than anything else. Their investment on some state of the art equipment and assets are likewise for better service. A sense of pride for the constituency/community in general actually as our BENECO has been awarded for pioneering such breakthrough among other electric companies. They’ve been likewise cited for their other extra service ~ from their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs like providing basic education among the less fortunate to the installation of street lights and donation of high-end CCTV cameras to the city among their many other notable projects ~ past, ongoing or in the offing.
Come to think of it, considering these developments, charges upon us are quite negligible compared to that of other areas. There seems to be no “return of investments” for a cost that they have to pass on to us. Try to assume how heavy that’ll be for consumers if, say, BENECO has been privatized by some firm having to worry about ROI for the investors’ capital... Chances are, it’s going to be “shock wave” for a ripple effect of which such burden will be alleviated at the expense of consumerism.
This said, BENECO has come up with a consumer empowerment program wherein we have a voice. As a matter of fact, we have been consumed by whatever it is that kept us preoccupied to the point we don’t get to participate in the affairs of the cooperative supposedly involving us. Again, guilty as charged. Anyone among you who has voted for BENECO’s BOD for instance? --- Yeah right!
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| After this, they served lunch too... |
Thus, it was worth the time having been invited to their Member Consumer Empowerment Program orientation. Quite aptly, I was “enLIGHTened” out of my naivety on matters pertaining to who as much as what BENECO is to us. From when complaints from consumers where justifiable up until they stood up to the challenge, got their acts together and live up to their calling. From the management to the linemen, their service-oriented dedication is “a beam of light that keeps us out of the dark-age” so to speak.
By this, I’m rediscovering fire... the fire in me as a consumer to likewise “light up the torch” if only to pass on this little knowledge (for now) to hopefully ignite your senses as to be in-the-know and to be more involved... fire up that appreciation... inflame our awareness... kindle openhandedness... spark that support for BENECO as their franchise contract’s end is drawing near and, most likely not far behind, interested private enterprises are on the prowl... Let there be no “dark kind of power interruption”... Let not our caves cave-in... Let there be light!
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| "Earliest Man" |
Now we know...