The original coverage area is composed of 10 municipalities, namely: Kalibo, Banga, Makato, Ibajay, Numancia, Lezo, Malinao, New Washington, Balete, and Tangalan.

The ten towns were organized into ten (10) districts, each having each own district Electrification Committee headed by a chairman. On April 25, 1972, the chairman of each of the District Electrification Committee became members of the interim Board of Directors of the Cooperative.

Pursuant to the NEA Board Resolution No. 47, adopted on May 5, 1972, AKELCO has an approved loan of P16, 755, 000.00, payable in 35 years with two (2) percent annual interest.

The loan agreement was however, signed on May 31, 1972, at the Aklan Provincial Capitol, Kalibo, Aklan. Signatories to the loan agreement were Gen. Ceferino S. Carreon, member of the Board of Administrators, representing the National Electrification Administration and Mr. Celestino R. Abello, President of the Board and representing the Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc.

COOP INCORPORATORS

The incorporators of the Cooperative are: Ramon F. Cortes, Balete; Agustin Santos, Banga; Vicente A. Solidum, Ibajay; Celestino R. Abello, Kalibo; Job Y. Besana, Lezo; Bienvenido T. Antoja, Makato; Cesar R. Imperial, Malinao; Bartolome Venus, New Washington; Pedro M. Cordova, Numancia; and Antonio T. Tabang, Tangalan.

The Cooperative incorporators became the interim Board of Directors. Atty. Bartolome L. Venus, who died later, was replaced by Atty. Rustico I. Icamina. Mr. Alejandro R. Torrea replaced Engr. Job Y. Besana, when he resigned to be appointed as General Manager.

A & E CONSULTANT HIRED

In February 12, 1973, the Cooperative entered into a contract with DCCD Engineering Corporation as its Architectural and Engineering (A&E) consultant in the preparation of the necessary drawings, specifications, cost estimates and other engineering works and supervisions during construction.

SITE FOR HEADQUARTERS FACILITIES

On September 13, 1973, the Cooperative acquired by purchase its four (4) hectares of land for its headquarters facilities at Lezo, Aklan. Immediately thereafter, the Cooperative management started the construction by leveling the site and at the same time the construction of the Multi-Purpose building. Construction was made through forced account.

On January 13, 1975, construction of the rest of the headquarters was started by V.M. Garcia Construction under contract, to include deep well, sewerage system. Lighting system, road nets office (administration) building, the warehouse, the General Manager’s residence and the perimeter fencing.

Formal Blessing of the Headquarters facilities was made on January 16, 1975, with USAID Directors to the Phil., Hon. Thomas Unblock as guest speaker. Other Guests at the ceremonies were the ambassadors of Japan, West Germany, India and some members of the diplomatic corps, Exec. Sec. Mr. Alejandro Melchor, Jr., NEA Administrator Pedro D. Dumol, National, Provincial and Local officials attending.

DISTRIBUTION LINES CONSTRUCTION

In the implementation of the AKELCO’S rural electrification program, the first major construction under contract was the Backbone System of the original ten-town coverage area. The backbone system of the distribution line linking the towns of Balete, Banga, Kalibo, Ibajay, Lezo, Makato, Malinao, New Washington, Numancia, and Tangalan.

Construction of the ten-town backbone system started July 29, 1975 and was completed in July 1, 1977 by Citation Engineering & Marketing Corporation with a total labor cost of P581, 545.00 for the 117 kilometers overhead band 300 meters underground distribution lines.

The first pole erection was made on August 15, 1975 in a simultaneous ceremony held at AKELCO Headquarters’ facilities and at Ibajay, at the same time with the organization and oath taking of the Aklan Fisherman’s Association. The ceremonies was attended by then Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor, Jr., NEA Administrator Col. Pedro G. Dumol, USAID officials, NRECA and Stanley Consultants, Provincial Governor Roberto Q. Garcia, other National, Provincial and Local Officials.

ACQUISITION/TAKE-OVER OF EXISTING
PRIVATE & MUNICIPAL OWNED & OPERATED ELECTRIC SYSTEM

On April 16, 1974, upon petition of the Kalibo Municipal Council and residents and as directed by NEA, the AKELCO took over the operations of the Kalibo Electric Light and Power Co., a privately owned and operated electric system. On October 1975, the Cooperative took over the operations of the municipal-owned Makato Power Plant and its system and on December 22 of the same year, started operating the Ibajay Electric Light, also a privately owned electric system.

LATERAL CONSTRUCTION

While the ten-town coverage area were under construction through a contract, the Cooperative having substantially trained lenemen and Barangay Electricians through the auspices of the National Power Corporation (NPC), The National Electrification Adminstration (NEA) and the National Manpower Youth Council (NMYC) also constructed lateral lines, as follows:

PRIMARY - 1-0 = 18.989 kms; v-0=9.116 kms; 3-0=3.667 kms

SECONDARY – U B (30.002) kms; Open = 5.783 kms

TOTAL = 38.191 kms

69 KV AKLAN-CAPIZ TRANSMISSION LINE

In an effort to give adequate and sufficient electric energy supply with the clamoring and increasing number of consumers/members, the next construction undertaken by the cooperative through force account was the 69 KV Aklan-Capiz Transmission (AKELCO Side) line covering 32.41 kilometers or a total of 64.82 Kilometers (including CAPELCO side). Construction started October 16, 1976 during the first pole erection ceremonies.

The project was supposed to be completed within four (4) months only but was hampered due to unavoidable circumstances. The project, which links AKELCO and CAPELCO, was completed only on October 219, 1977.

5 MVA SUBSTATION

In the course of the construction of the 69 KV transmission line, the 5 MVA substation at Andagao Power Plant of the cooperative started and was completed and energized November 27, 1977.

DISTRIBUTION LINE EXPANDED

Just after the completion of the 69 KV transmission line, another backbone system was extended from Poblacion Ibajay to Poblacion Nabas. The 11.606-kilometer distribution line was constructed through force account.

Another part of the backbone system from the town of Altavas to Batan was constructed with a total of 11.1 kilometers. Power will come from the 1.5 MVA substation at Altavas, which was also partly constructed by contract.

To further hasten the implementation of the rural electrification program \, the town of Malay, utilizing its municipal set has also energized pending completion and construction as well as funding of the distribution lines from Nabas to Pandan, Libertad, Buruanga and Malay route in the west.

EXPANSION OF THE COOP COVERAGE AREA

In September 1976, by petition of the residents and municipal councils of Libertad and Pandan of the province of
Antique and the remaining towns of Aklan not included in the original town coverage, the area coverage of the Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc. was expanded. From the original ten (10), the area coverage was increased to nineteen (19) towns. However, the number of districts was reduced from ten (10) to nine (9).

Now the districts are: I- Malay & Buruanga; II – Pandan & Libertad; III – Nabas & Ibajay; IV – Makato & Tangalan; V – Numancia & Kalibo; VI- Lezo & Malinao; VII – New Washington & Batan; VIII – Altavas & Balete; and IX – Banga, Libacao & madalag.

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

The first special membership meeting of the cooperative was held on July 9, 1977 at the Coop’s Multi-Purpose building at Lezo, Aklan. The members ratified the amendments made by the Board of Directors to the redistricting of the coverage area.
 

ELECTION OF THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In accord with the Coop’s By-Laws and to give other members a chance to serve the policy-making body of the Cooperative, the election of the new set of directors to represent the nine (9) districts was held from October 15-23, 1977. The newly elected Board of Directors assumed office on December 18, 1977 during the First Annual Membership Meeting of the cooperative held at the Multi-purpose building at Lezo, Aklan.

INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

It is said that good management requires continuous preparation and development for all the persons engaged in managing. To meet this objective, the Cooperative sees to it that qualified persons are employed for efficient management.

As a policy for economic development and stability as an enlightened management, the Coop sends key men and women to institutes, conventions, conferences and seminar workshops conducted by the NEA to acquire effective leadership and motivation to provide the staff with visible opportunities for self-actuation. This, also include the members of the Board of Directors who are sent to seminar/workshops on Cooperative Development and Management.

To further attain the goal of good management, member/consumers relationships, members are acquired to attend the District Election Committee Seminar workshops; and to maximize informational and educational membership drive; meetings are held in every town, barangay, and sitio before construction is started to acquaint the prospective member/consumers of their rights, obligations and privileges. For a well-rounded development communication system, the Coop’s key men and women participate in seminar-workshops meetings, lectures and forums in coordination with government offices and agencies as lecturer or resource speakers. This is also aside from the newsletter sent to member/consumers and the regular weekly radio program consumption of the general public.