There will be no power interruptions on the 27th of December. This according to a text message from our sources. But there are now talks that the power cut-off may happen on January 3, 2013.
The drama remains. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel but it’s a train coming towards our direction.
————
Official Media Release from APRI
AP Renewables Inc (APRI) issued a fifth disconnection notice in December 17
due to the repeated failure of Abreco to comply with the following
commitments : that payments be made in full and on time, that there no
delays in the agreed payment schedule and that Abreco will process their
WESM membership to allow them other options for their power supply.
Moreover, Abreco has yet to post the security deposit of 32 million that
was required in December 2011.
APRI operates the Tiwi-Makban geothermal power plants in Batangas, Laguna
and Albay. It supplies one hundred percent of the power needs of Abreco,
which serves the whole province of Abra
————-
For all it’s worth here’s another story from Philstar. Quotes from GM Seares:
—
“But the timing is most cruel,” said Seares, adding that the cooperative has scrapped the bottom of its barrel to pay APRI.
“We again see the hand of Gov. (Eustaquio) Bersamin instigating this impending mess in our financial operations,” Seares said. “Since Abreco survived the demands of Aboitiz, (Gov. Bersamin) compelled NGCP to issue another threat.” Seares said that if the cooperative survives NGCP, the PSALM will be “used” to pressure him to step down.
Gov. Bersamin earlier denied any hand in the Abreco mess as he claimed he does not have any executive powers over a cooperative.
Seares, however, insisted that the governor wants to remove him from his post so that a political ally of the governor takes Seares’ place.
“But we are sorry to disappoint him,” Seares said, adding that only only the cooperative’s board of directors can legally replace officers. – Artemio A. Dumlao
Read Full Story here
abrenian.com 
follow the money kunada ngarud tapno maamuan no apay nga ado ti utang. no adda bagdispalko ti pirak masapol nga isu ti agsungbat. detoy ngamin cooperativa nalaukan met ti politikan isu nga adu ti kumplikasyunes nga rumsua. ni joy nangited ti 5M. ni Takit kayat na nga masukatan ni Jun. ni Jendricks inserrek na ni Roger nga director. daytoy Abreco ket nagbalinen nga paggugubatan ti politikon. masayaat kuma met a no isuda ti agsagrap ti rigat ngem haan met. datayo met nga marigrigat. tattan ania ti mabalin tay nga aramiden? Detoy ti saludsod!
Sent from my iPhone
Posted by kantoboime | December 26, 2012, 1:18 pmin other words! this issue is now highly politicized. I just read that two groups in facebook who are very much identified with the Bersamins are all out in supporting the ouster of the ABRECO leaderships. The ABRECO leadership may be incompetent but the means of using this to further each one of these politicians agenda is irresponsible if not self-serving.
Posted by Madz | December 26, 2012, 2:10 pmYou can say that again MADZ. Bulgar met unay nga opportunism detan!
Posted by Ruben C. Piston | December 27, 2012, 5:39 amYou use the word “POLITICIZE” quite loosely, MADZ – EXACTLY what do you mean? Of course, some people are demanding the ouster of the GM and the rest of his toy soldiers in order to put people that are more competent than the management currently in place! Regardless of who are pushing for this change, the Bersamins, the Bernoses, the Lunas, the other FACEBOOK groups(excluding yours of course) tell us something that isn’t political! Just in case you did not realize ONLY POLITICS will prompt and cause change in ABRECO!! Remember that! The consumers tried but it isn’t working and never will and definitely not FACEBOOK groups!! But, that does not mean they should strive trying by politics, by hook or by crook! Looks like crooks have the edge!
Posted by itellitlikeitis | January 3, 2013, 3:14 amAn inspection &/or an investigation is going to happen on Jan. 6 to Jan. 9th by CDA( Cooperative Dev. Authority) & CAR . Abreco is registered under the CDA & not NEA. A General Assembly is being planned to happen after the investigation. I said it should take place the same dates of the inspection/investigation.
Posted by Carmelita E. Omli | December 26, 2012, 3:53 pmHow can you have a general assembly and an investigation at the same time ?
Posted by musilat mulagat | December 26, 2012, 5:41 pmDoes it really make a difference if power is cut off today or on Jan. 3? The fact still remains that the people of ABRA are under a never-ending threat of blackout. I really don’t care whose side the officials of ABRA are on. That is only a diversion to the real issue which is the gross mismanagement of ABRECO and the systematic plunder of its funds by the general mismanager and the crooked members of the board of directors. What we need is a permanent solution to this problem, not just a band-aid solution. The politicians will try to gain whatever political capital they can get from this issue. Let us not delude ourselves into thinking that these politicians, corrupt and greedy as they are, have our welfare in mind. We are not the fools they take us to be. Mismanagement and plunder are not confined to the ABRECO alone. It has spread all over the province of ABRA, from the governor to the lowliest barangay kagawad. Unless we wake up from our never-ending stupor, we may one day find ourselves losing even the shirts on our backs. The insatiable greed of our so-called leaders have condemned us to a life of poverty.
Posted by pedro abreno | December 26, 2012, 3:54 pmthey should pay all their dues so that abrenians will not be worried everytime the cutoff date comes… so irresponsible manager… stop having chicks! and dont use the money of the cooperative. shame on you GM and so with your relatives working there!!!
Posted by SV2 | December 26, 2012, 4:06 pmayna apo lakay baket ken maladaga… saan u kadi napampanunot ta naimbag a pag balbalinanti abra killing fields?.. ay ket ag aksyon kayo ditan ah ag bukel kayo ti maysa a grupo a mang kitkitaa dagita a problema u dita, nalalaing kayo met ,kitan u kadi dagitay texto u ditoy blog.. if u look at the province of abra its a shamefool in term of your leaders.. Ti saludsod kakabsat,, A sino kadi ti makatulong kanyayo? well open your eyes and mind to kick off those leaders that you think he/she are not doing good in your province. ” ABRA’S WORD- INCOMPETENT”
Posted by BROSKO | December 26, 2012, 4:23 pmA dose of your own medicine!
The same rule should apply to Abreco . Non payment of electric bill means disconnection plus penalty. This is a double standard. Common guys , abreco is a honeypot . An organized crime and syndicate to generate income for the godfathers..revolving fund for the forthcoming election.
Can’t help speculating but it makes sense.
Posted by musilat mulagat | December 26, 2012, 5:18 pmEnter the good samaritans !
Posted by musilat mulagat | December 26, 2012, 5:19 pmThe provincial Board Members (SP) alleged that they could help Abreco at its most dire need situation by trying perhaps to juggle funds that were already budgeted for other projects. I for one consider this as a noble gesture provided that there’s no shady deal or vicious personal hidden agenda that might be attached to it. But then again, it might be construed as condoning their alleged mismanagement if we will not apply it to a better perspective like no collection to be made from all consumers in a certain period of time. For example, if SP will allot 100 million pesos, this amount should be indirectly applied to each consumer monthly dues (in the amount to be determined per consumer) until such time that the 100 million is exhausted or already fully used by all consumers. On this, it doesn’t appear that subject assistance or fund did not directly aid the Abreco but the consumers in general in a manner that even the President I think would not question it.
Posted by tonto | December 26, 2012, 5:31 pmBefore we start performing a cpr to abreco
our local politics should weed out ,and start
preparing criminal charges to those perpetrators .
Posted by Uggot | December 26, 2012, 8:47 pmYou can call it anything you want – but the ABRECO management is a bunch of INCOMPETENT BOOBS that
over a short period of time have managed to incur a DEBT of almost half a billion pesos and have successfully put over a cloud of threat of power disconnection in the Province of Abra!! Calling for the resignation of the GM & the BOD is any INTELLIGENT consumer or observer would demand! Any response to stifle folks from asking these boobs from resigning would be asinine not to metion irresponsible!
Posted by itellitlikeitis | December 27, 2012, 5:07 amjail d corrupt. go kil em all
Posted by jr | December 27, 2012, 6:05 ami couldn’t agree more
Posted by manangbiday | December 29, 2012, 1:32 ami could not agree more to itellitlikeitis, not to JR though, hehe
Posted by manangbiday | December 29, 2012, 1:36 amIt’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness – Chines Proverb
Aggatang tayon iti kandela.
Goodbye electricity.
Goodbye computer.
Goodbye internet.
Goodbye abrenian.com.
Posted by Umaarikap | December 30, 2012, 6:48 amI am really sad for the people. I wish I am a millionaire…I would just pay for it then go after the culprits.:(
Posted by Carmelita E. Omli | December 30, 2012, 3:45 pmNo need madam. It does not require any one to be a millionaire in order to make a change or bring d concept of change into reality. Someone had told me before, “no one is so rich that he needs nothing, and no one is so poor that he cannot give anything.” It doesn’t really matter whether we are rich or poor, when it comes to choosing d people to lead us and govern, and reposing in them our trust and confidence, lahat po tayo ay may pananagutan sa isa’t isa. No kinawesan tayo dagitoy nga tattao iti turay, we also have d power to take this power back. We have that right, so it’s now up to us whether we choose to exercise it or not…
Posted by RImat t abra | December 30, 2012, 11:06 pmI absolutely agree with RIMAT TI ABRA. “Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them.” If we can elect our government officials, we can also drive them out if they do not shape up. Let us disabuse our minds of the belief that these government officials can do whatever they want and there is nothing we can do about it. Government officials in our benighted province never had it so good. Aside from dipping their dirty fingers into taxpayers’ money, they have done little else. You may even accuse me of making such a sweeping statement but It boggles my mind trying to figure out a single govenment official in Abra we can describe as pure as driven snow. All of them, sad to say, even the barangay captains, are living beyond their means. Their expertise lie in housing and transportation. Housing for their families including their queridas and SUVs again for their families and their queridas. By the way, they seem to have no satisfaction and it is seen in the number of houses, townhouses, condos, SUVs, pick-ups and luxury vehicles they have acquired. They are not that shy either because they even have the gall to flaunt their ill-gotten wealth. Shameful to say the least but they seem to have lost all sense of shame. In the coming elections, we really have no choice because the same faces are running against each other. However, we can hold them accountable for their misdeeds in office. Let us remain vigilant and let us stop tolerating their abuses. We have a very honest president who we can turn to. Let us not allow these crooks to hoodwink us till kingdom come. We can bring our concerns directly to the president. Let us not be afraid. The only real things we stand to lose are our chains, because we have allowed them to chain us to a life of poverty. Mabuhay ka, RIMAT T ABRA. May your tribe increase.
Posted by pedro abreno | December 31, 2012, 12:16 am@ Pedro Abreno: Well-said gayyem. Your comments based on your observations as to d present political turmoil our dear province is experiencing is, to my opinion, accurate as d same is supported by factual evidence. Most of our elected leaders are now consumed by earthly power, and d wealth that comes with it thru d local government unit’s coffers (IRA), resulting to our prejudices, as their constituents and taxpayers. While they (politicians) become richer, we, d Abrenian people, are made to unnecessarily and undeservely suffer because of them. I realize it’s too difficult to teach them now d true essence of public service, that “public office is a public trust” and that “with great power comes great responsibility”, but then again, I maintain with a steadfast conviction my still burning hope that someday, somehow, we, d Abrenian people, will individually realize that thru suffrage/election, we still possess d ultimate power to choose our rightful leaders to guide us in restoring order and delivering our dear province to its old glorious days. All is not lost, and may this time come sooner than expected. Yoo, too, Sir…may your flock grow in multitudes. Keep posting n inspiring, you shine!
Posted by RImat ti Abra | December 31, 2012, 9:39 pmSome politicians are conducting barangay visit and they are giving away money!!! The irony is that they are even proud to post such photos on facebook! Juris prudence by the supreme court in their decision that a candidate who has filed his/her COC is not yet considered as candidate if it is not yet campaign period! Which means that there is no such thing as premature campaigning that would be in violation with the law!!
Posted by Abbat Iddot | December 31, 2012, 2:59 amI am responding to the comment of JOSEF since my name was mentioned……Josef, you can PM me if your heart is really into the betterment of our provine. As far as the Abreco situation, I am doing my best to see what I could do so that the people ofAbra are not always stressed about when a disconnection is going to happen again. I am far away from home but I think I am the one getting all the information from all the Agencies involved. You have to remember that there’s procedures to take and worst because of the holiday, it is even making things slower. I maybe away from home but I have a group working their ass in Manila talking to CDA, Aboitiz, NEA & the former power provider…is it Napolcor? I suggested for a non-violence OCCUPY ABRECO. Why don’t you join hands with me. I like your thinking. You seem to be an intelligent person. So, PM me because I need one like you in my group.
@Rimat Ti Abra……it takes money to do things especially in the Phil. Bassit la nga garaw masapul ti kuarta. I spent my 35KUSD only for my 2 trips that I was there. I was supposed to run for the Congressional but I backed out because of personal reasons….refer to PhilStar Press about me.
@Musilat Mulagat, The General Assembly I was referring can take place on the days of the inspection if Abrenians can rally infront of Abreco. RALLY IS WHAT IT TAKES ON THOSE DATES so the CDA can see an I am sure that while they are there, they will approve a General Assembly to happen. Why don’t you PM me and we can all plan. I am away from home like I said, but I am on my way home JUST for this matter.
Posted by Carmelita E. Omli | December 31, 2012, 12:44 pmDM/ES I beg you to hold your breath for a couple of seconds before launching your sarcastic comments again.
This is now a serious or intelligent conversation which I know you are very qualified to participate if you try not to say a word which is insulting/offensive in nature. You don’t need to reply me and just forgive me if I misread your thoughts. Go…I’m waiting for your constructive criticisms….
Posted by sleeping dragon | December 31, 2012, 2:14 pmAUDIT! AUDIT! AUDIT!……….
Posted by PiNikPikan | January 1, 2013, 2:32 amgm jun seares kabibili lng ng bulletproof a lugan worth 3.8M. tlaga nga hanakayat pay ti matay daytoy a tao.tinto pakatayana matinag kakaldingan daytoy a tao.hana kayat matay tapnu tuloytuloy ang ligaya nya.
Posted by tirong | January 1, 2013, 4:50 ampoliticians dipping their hands on abreco issue is not helping in reality but rather deepening the wound by politicizing a confined issue. The problem is inside abreco uray no ania nga palusot iti ibaga dagita nga opisyales blaming this politician and that politician. the problem as we all know it is INCOMPETENT MANAGEMENT!!! ksano aya nga dimakkel iti kasta iti utang? is the collection not enough to pay abreco’s dues?.. key no kaspagarigan ket kurang (which is unlikely to happen) ania iti inaramid dagitoy nga opisyales tapno masolve iti problem? ania aya iti naaramid da tapno haan nga immabot iti kastoy daytoy nga problema? i’m sure this problem did not occur overnight!!???… whatever their justification is, this problem that we are facing has showed the INCOMPETENCE of these officers.. they might be good in some aspects; KURAKOT, SHOPPING, WOMANIZING, GAMBLING, etc 🙂 but for sure they are not good and competent enough to run abreco isu nga dayta kuma iti kitaen tayo nga concerned members and citizens, nga dagitoy kuma nga tattao ket haan dan nga agtugaw nga opisyal iti abreco ever!!! rumbeng nga maikkat da but before letting them go an in-depth investigation has to be done to dig the extent of their involvement in this mess that abreco is in now.
aggingga adda dagitoy nga nakatugaw dita trono da cigurado daytoy nga problema iti abreco ket haan nga masolbar ket daytoy nga problema ket awan sabali nga mangsolve no di ket sitayo amin nga masiknan. time to really organize and solidify our power so that we can once and for all instigate a change in leadership. a leadership that is honest in their intent of giving a good electrical/power service to the province of abra. apay nga ag-rely tayo kadagitoy nga pol-politicos iti pannakasolbar na daytoy nga problema? masolbar da ngata? haan ta gapu na ket selfish motive to met iti magna. these politicians in reality don’t care about us people of abra. they only care about their power so that they can continue to loot abra.
Posted by manna.lon | January 1, 2013, 7:46 amthere is now PREPAID ELECTRICITY…. why won’t we apply it here in ABRA?…. eh di walang problem.. if dika magbayad eh di walang ilaw hindi pa madamay yong may pambayad……
Posted by ERC | January 1, 2013, 4:41 pmHindi naman yong mga walang ibinayad ang cause ng problema ng Abreco… yong mga kumurakot ang dahilan. Ano ka ba?
Posted by Carmelita E. Omli | January 1, 2013, 4:46 pmManang pwede rin gawin sa abreco yung sa mismong mainline kung saan nakakabit ang aboitiz at abreco before going to distribution or utilization.ang responsibilidad dyan ang abreco hindi conxumers ang mag update sa bills.ex. 4millions ang top up pero 2millions ang credit yung other 2million punta sa utang ng abreco sa aboitiz. Pag ubos yang prepaid na 4million potul ang kuryente natin 😉 cgoru mas maganda pag ganito para tatanda ang abrenians sa pagpili ng bod at maneger
Posted by jestoni | January 1, 2013, 8:34 pmKasi yang pina- upo nilang gm at bod pres di nga marunong magpatakbo ng sarisari store yung pa kayang coop.lol
Posted by jestoni | January 1, 2013, 8:38 pmanya t damag jay payables t abreco t NGCP nga agdue no bigat jan. 03, 2013? 5 million pesos t monthly average nga transmission charges tayo dta abra…..tnx n blessed new year to all
Posted by watersnake | January 2, 2013, 1:01 amAbreco to endure despite dirty politics – manager
By Artemio Dumlao (philstar.com) | Updated January 2, 2013 – 6:34pm
BANGUED, Abra – Faced with yet another impending black-out at the start the year, the Abra Electric Cooperative (Abreco) vows to weather the dirty politics in the northern province.
Abreco “is asserting our perseverance in weathering all (their) obstructionist posturing and doomsday prophecies,” said Abreco General Manager Loreto Seares, Jr., who is at the middle of the “power struggle” spawned by outside forces in the province including political figures wanting control of the cooperative
“We refuse to be sidetracked from our vision and mission as a public utility organization exclusively mandated by law to deliver electric power supply to the whole Abra franchise area,” Seares said 2013 “ushers in a new beginning of the cooperative”.
A supposed black-out on unpaid obligations to the power supplier Aboitiz Renewable Power Inc. (APRI) on Dec. 27 was averted after Abreco paid its monthly dues of P4.9 million.
“We inform our member-consumers that our electric cooperative is capable of paying its monthly electricity fees. We have successfully done that. We have no debts, whatsoever, at APRI, as of this date.”
Nation ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Seares said, “brownouts are not a horrifying specter that would shake the foundation of our cooperative.”
Abreco is braving yet another threat of power cut off on Jan. 3, this time by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and next by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., both reportedly being pressured by local Abra political leaders wanting to use the cooperative’s financial woes to oust the Abreco management.
“We do not subscribe to such low-handed tactics. The common good is paramount,” Seares said.
“Electric power is a basic commodity which cannot be bastardized as a bargaining chip in a political game. The general welfare clause takes precedence over all our thrusts, programs, and plans in Abreco.”
Abreco services at least 47,000 Abrenios in all 27 towns of Abra.
As long as we are free from political intervention and adventurism, Abreco keeps its lights on, Seares added.
“If our power supplier has been unwittingly dragged into this as the alleged source of the misrepresented facts, we have to inform them so within the context of our business intercourse.”
Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin has denied charges “of his dipping fingers into the affairs of Abreco” and reportedly wants his own “anointed one” to replace Seares ahead of the 2013 midterm polls.
Posted by amipol | January 2, 2013, 4:58 am