The House of Representatives on August 7, 2024 approved on third reading the House Bill on the renewal of the franchise of Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO).

BENECO General Manager, Melchor Licoben said “Our next hurdle is the senate and we hope to get the bill approved before the election. Thank you everyone for working hard for the passage of our franchise.”

Once passed, House Bill 10483, authored by Baguio City Rep. Mark Go and Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, will allow BENECO to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain a distribution system for the conveyance of electric power within the city and the larger Benguet province for another 25 years.

“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,” Rep. Go said.

“BENECO has consistently provided the most affordable on-grid rate, and has consistently displayed exemplary performance in widening the reach of our rural electrification efforts and creating sustainable countrywide development,” he added.

BENECO’s current 50-year franchise under the National Electrification Administration to operate as an electric distribution utility will end in 2028, after it was granted in March 1978.

At present, BENECO covers Baguio City and all 13 towns of Benguet, providing power to a total of 269 barangays.

The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to grant a franchise to the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) on Wednesday, August 7.