CEBU CITY – Power distribution utility firm, Visayan Electric Company (VECO) announced that it is presently fixing the electrical facilities of schools covered under its franchise area which will serve as polling precincts for the national and local elections on May 10.

VECO Corporate Communications Manager Ethel Natera Saturday said that at least 20 groups composed of accredited electricians, line contractors and their respective crew members have been dispatched to the polling precincts to determine if there are any defective electrical facilities that may hamper the flow of the elections, including the canvassing, and to immediately act on the matter if there are.

“The repairs to be made inside the schools and classrooms are not supposed to be part of VECO’s responsibility since this is already a load side problem,” Natera said. “But VECO has decided to go all out in repairs to made in the polling precincts for the May 10 elections. We are doing so knowing the importance of power for the elections.”

She added VECO is assuming all the costs involved in the repairs, which is a joint effort of the company and its contractors as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

Earlier, VECO conducted an inspection of polling precincts from the Municipality of Liloan in the northern part of Cebu down to the town of San Fernando in the south, and forwarded its findings to the Comelec and local government units. Cebu City is now working on the recommendations given by the power firm.

“The support of accredited electricians/associations and contractors is heartwarming. As part of their own corporate social responsibility, the electricians and contractors are giving their services for free,” Natera shared.

VECO is also providing for all the materials needed like electrical outlets, wires, and even light bulbs.

Among the VECO contractors taking part in the repair are Rosch and CESAI or Cebu Electrical Services Association (assisting Mandaue City); Jodan, Cebu Power and DBB contractor together with the Minglanilla Naga San Fernando Electricians Association (Minglanilla, Naga, and San Fernando areas); the Liloan Electrician Group Association (Liloan & Consolacion); and Omens and ACES-7 ( Talisay City).

Natera disclosed that accredited electricians from Cereli will help augment the force from VECO which will work on any power-related problems on the day of the elections, especially in the polling centers.

“The Board of Election Inspectors may inform Comelec of their problem, which will in turn forward their complaint to the VECO liaison stationed inside the Comelec Cebu-Province office,” Natera concluded.