GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The South Cotabato Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO) II, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), introduced at a ceremonial launch here Wednesday, May 31, the electric cooperative's new data management system to better serve local consumers.
The enhanced Geographic Information System (GIS) map for General Santos City aims to improve the operational performance of SOCOTECO II, which is essential to cater to the needs of the electricity consumers in the city.
Through the upgraded asset management system, substantive network planning, a faster complaint and outage management system, and timely compliance with regulatory standards, SOCOTECO II is expected to cut system losses, resulting in cheaper electricity prices for consumers.
USAID, through its Energy Secure Philippines (ESP) Activity, mobilized a GIS mapping support team from General Santos City and trained them on field data gathering, the use of software, and database development.
“SOCOTECO II is grateful for this grant from the USAID as this will be very useful in the electric cooperative’s daily operations. We are hopeful that this will result [in] quicker response to troubles and complaints in the distribution systems as it will bring ease in the identification of the location of that trouble to be addressed,” SOCOTECO II General Manager Geronimo Desesto, expressed his hopes on the enhanced GIS system.
Since 2021, USAID ESP has actively worked with various private distribution utilities and electric cooperatives across the country to improve their operational services, gearing towards enhanced security and reliability of the country’s unified power system.
“Energy Security is essential to the reliability of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives. And USAID looks forward to continuing partnership with SOCOTECO II, and General Santos City, and Mindanao in general, as well as working with our power utilities throughout the country, to introduce innovations that will ultimately benefit the people of the Philippines,” USAID Philippines Environment Office Director Ryder Rogers said. (USAID)
