FILE

Batangas II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATELEC II) has taken a significant step toward selecting a private sector partner after its Board of Directors unanimously approved the conduct of a Competitive Selection Process (CSP), reinforcing the cooperative's commitment to transparency, fairness, and accountability in its governance.

Under the approved framework, interested private firms will undergo a public bidding process before any partnership is considered. BATELEC II said the CSP will serve as the governance framework for evaluating proposals involving private sector participation in its distribution utility business.

The Board also directed its Technical Working Group (TWG) to prepare the Terms of Reference (TOR), which will establish the rules and evaluation criteria for prospective proponents. The TOR will be drafted in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 269, as amended, National Electrification Administration (NEA) Board Resolution No. 88, Series of 2002, and other applicable laws and regulations.

According to BATELEC II, adopting the governance framework before preparing the bidding documents reflects the Board's deliberate effort to ensure that the rules are clearly established before any proposals are received and evaluated. The cooperative said this approach is intended to promote transparency, competitiveness, and equal opportunity among all prospective partners.

The cooperative also emphasized that any partnership involving its assets, property, or franchise will remain subject to the approval of its Member-Consumers-Owners (MCOs) through a referendum whenever required by law.

BATELEC II noted that strategic partnerships are being explored by many electric cooperatives as a way to strengthen operations and improve service quality. As these initiatives continue to evolve, the cooperative said strong governance will play an increasingly important role in ensuring that partnership decisions remain objective, transparent, and legally defensible.