ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – At least nine million consumers of various electric cooperatives in the country are expected to turn-off their lights at 9 p.m. tonight as a sign protest on the rising prices of electricity.

In his recent consultation with stakeholders in this city, Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP) Party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones said the protest action dubbed “9-9-9-9” will be conducted by the consumers to show their disgust on the additional charges in their electricity bills being collected by certain electric cooperatives in various provinces.

Briones said he is questioning why the electric cooperatives are collecting the Member Contribution for Capital Expenditures (MCCE), which he said is amounting to some P55 billion annually, from the consumers.

As this developed, he said AGAP wanted the officials of the Department of Energy (DoE) and National Electrification Administration (NEA) to make an inquiry regarding this matter.

The party-list representative said the concerned electric cooperatives should be converted to regular cooperatives, and be transferred under the supervision of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), so the consumers will benefit from their operation.

As he added that this will pave the way for the prices of the electricity to go down.

In another development, officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) commended the Food Processor Association of Zamboanga (FPAZ) for providing free livelihood trainings in the various villages in this city.

USAID commended FPAZ president Edsel Mari Acuña and vice president and City Councilor Miguel “Mike” Alavar III for conducting livelihood seminars in several areas here.

The commendation was announced at the graduation rites of the 99 participants from three areas who completed the free livelihood training in fish processing.

Robert Burch, USAID office of education chief, and Alejandra Bonifaz, EQUALLS2 OSCY specialist, were impressed with the performance of the FPAZ staff led by Acuña and Alavar, and other trainers who have been their partners in extending skills in food processing to the unemployed and less fortunate people.

The USAID and the FPAZ has the same goal, which is to help the people to be productive and earn a living.