MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives passed on third and final reading a bill that would extend the franchise of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco).
House Bill 10483, authored by Baguio City Rep. Marquez Go and Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap, was passed with 202 votes approving the bill during the plenary on Wednesday.
The measure will allow Beneco to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain a distribution system for the conveyance of electric power within Baguio City and the larger Benguet province for another 25 years.
The cooperative’s current 50-year franchise under the National Electrification Administration to operate as a distribution utility is slated to end in 2028 after it was granted in March 1978.
In passing the bill, Go acknowledged the cooperative’s commitment to serve the residents of Baguio and Benguet by ensuring uninterrupted service to its communities for another 25 years.
He also cited Beneco for being the top performing electric cooperative in the Cordillera Administrative Region, earning a 99 percent performance rating.
“The passage of this franchise ensuring Beneco’s continued service is long overdue, and I am grateful and pleased that my colleagues at the House of Representatives understand the cooperative’s impact in powering our rural communities and ensuring widespread electric coverage in our towns across Benguet and Baguio City,” Go said.
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