July 16, 2025
This afternoon, at exactly 1:00 PM, the entire province of Basilan was plunged into darkness.
Not because of a typhoon. Not because of a natural disaster. But because of something far more avoidable and, frankly, inexcusable — a financial mismanagement rooted in decades of systemic neglect and lack of accountability. The National Power Corporation (NPC) disconnected its supply to the Basilan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BASELCO) due to an unpaid billing of ₱46.213 million for the billing period April 26 to May 25, 2025, which was due nearly a month ago, on June 25.
While BASELCO reportedly paid 70% of its debt, the unpaid ₱14 million was enough for NPC to pull the plug — literally — on an entire province. And now, ordinary Basileños are once again paying the price for someone else’s failure.
This Is Not Just About Electricity — It’s About Justice
Electricity is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. The modern world runs on power. Schools rely on computers and projectors. Businesses need it to stay operational. Hospitals depend on electricity to keep patients alive. Families use it to cook, to communicate, to study. When electricity is shut off — even for a few hours — it disrupts lives, education, health care, and local economies.
For those who live in Basilan, this blackout isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s a vivid reminder of how vulnerable they are in a system that punishes the many for the failures of the few.
Where Did the People’s Money Go?
Let us be clear: the people of Basilan pay their bills. In fact, those who do not are swiftly penalized by BASELCO. A few days of delay, and households are cut off from the grid without hesitation. So the question that now screams for an answer is this: where did the money go?
If consumers are paying their dues, why is there a ₱49 million unpaid bill hanging over BASELCO’s head?
This is not merely a financial issue — it’s a failure of transparency and accountability. The cooperative, entrusted with collecting payments and remitting them accordingly to power suppliers, has apparently failed to perform its most basic function. Yet instead of facing the consequences, the management of BASELCO continues to operate with impunity, while the public bears the burden.
Governance Failure at Its Worst
This is not the first time Basilan has suffered from power-related issues, and if bold steps are not taken, it certainly won’t be the last. What we are witnessing is a breakdown in governance, a failure in oversight, and a growing trust deficit between the people and the institutions meant to serve them.
Yes, Governor Mujiv Hataman has stepped in and is coordinating with both NEA and NPC to restore electricity by 5:00 PM today. We acknowledge and welcome his intervention. But it shouldn’t take a crisis for our leaders to act. And it certainly shouldn’t be a repeated cycle of disconnect–reconnect–delay–blame that we see every time there’s a billing issue.
Time to Hold BASELCO Accountable
We call on the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to conduct a full audit of BASELCO’s finances. Let the people of Basilan know where their money is going. Let the cooperative explain how payments are being managed. And most importantly, let the officials and decision-makers behind this mess be held accountable — not just through administrative sanctions, but through criminal charges if necessary.
No cooperative should be allowed to mishandle public funds and then hide behind bureaucracy when the lights go out. If BASELCO cannot fulfill its mandate, then it is time for the government to explore alternative management models, whether through public-private partnerships, stronger regulatory interventions, or even a revamp of the entire cooperative system in conflict-affected areas like Basilan.
Enough Is Enough
We urge the NPC to consider consumer protection mechanisms before cutting power supply to an entire province. Surely there are more humane and strategic solutions than blanket blackouts. Punish the culprits — not the hospitals. Not the students. Not the sari-sari stores and tricycle drivers trying to earn a living.
The people of Basilan are no strangers to hardship. For decades, they have stood strong in the face of conflict, poverty, and neglect. But they should not have to suffer in the dark because someone at the top failed to file a check.
This crisis is not just about electricity. It is about justice, transparency, and accountability. It is about reminding institutions — from BASELCO to NPC — that the public they serve is not just a number on a billing sheet. They are people. And they deserve better.
Let the lights be restored — not just in our homes, but in how we govern.