L
ike the other 118 rural electric cooperatives nationwide, the Bantayan Island Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BANELCO), situated in Balintawak, Bantigue, Bantayan, was established based on the provisions of Republic Act 6038, Presidential Decree No. 269, and Republic Act 1645. The cooperative’s contact details are telefax numbers (032) 4609281, (032) 4609112, (032) 3525205, and email address banelcoonline@yahoo.com. BANELCO’s primary purpose, as outlined in these laws, is to achieve total electrification within its coverage area.
BANELCO was registered with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) on September 29, 1978, and was granted a 50-year franchise to operate electric light and power services, beginning August 15, 1984, under Certificate No. III. This franchise covers the three municipalities of Bantayan, Madridejos, and Santa Fe. The interim Board of Directors was composed of the late Judge Rumoldo Fernandez as President, the late Mr. Valentin Pacina, Sr. as Vice-President, the late Atty. Ladislao Gerra as Secretary, Mr. Teresito Villacastin as Treasurer, and the late Mr. Panfilo dela Peña as a member.
With a construction loan of P10,080,000 from the NEA, the first ceremonial pole was erected in January 1983, marking the beginning of the distribution line construction. BANELCO began operations with the energization of its backbone lines on December 8, 1983, simultaneously providing power to the three municipalities and fourteen other barangays in its coverage area.
