ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (Zamcelco), considered as the oldest energy distributor in Western and Northern Mindanao, marks its 38th founding anniversary Saturday, amid various commendable performance of its new management in barely over a year.

Newly National Electrification Administration (NEA)-designated acting Zamcelco general manager and concurrent project supervisor Engineer Jesus Y. Castro said this year’s celebration will be highlighted by a symbolic switch-on ceremony on the recently completed energization program for 41 sitios or small villages.

The switch-on activity, Castro said, will be jointly undertaken by Mayor Celso L. Lobregat, Representative Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar (lst District, Zamboanga City), Representative Erico Basilio A. Fabian (2nd District, Zamboanga City), and invited NEA officials from the central office.

Castro – a former NEA multi-awarded general manager of the Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative II (Zamsureco-II) based in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay – said the energization project for the 41 small villages that started last October, was financed by NEA through the strong representations of Lobregat, Salazar, and Fabian.

He said all the chieftains of the 38 villages where the energized sitios are located will also be around to witness the symbolic occasion, which will tremendously expand the area of coverage of Zamcelco.

Complete details of the over P20-million electrification project, which was finished in a record time of barely three months, will be treated in a separate story, according to Castro who was pulled out from Ipil in January, 2011, by the NEA after it had dismissed the previous Zamcelco top officials, including its entire members of the board of directors.

Castro, whose managerial competence prompted NEA to install him in its Hall of Fame after naming him the country’s “Most Outstanding General Manager” for five consecutive years, said today’s anniversary celebration will also be a special occasion for 39 Zamcelco personnel who will be awarded with Plaques of Recognition for having devotedly and efficiently served the cooperative ranging from 15 to 35 years.

The acting Zamcelo general manager said participants and visitors of the day-long anniversary affair will be welcomed by Zamcelco Board of Directors president Efren T. Perez, together with vice president Elbert C. Atilano Sr., and board secretary Agustin Graciano Jr.

Anniversary messages, Castro said, will be delivered by NEA Board Member Santiago S. Navarro, NEA Financial Assistant Charito C. Mabilatazan, and NEA Technical Assistant Federico P. Villar Jr.