“Tatsulok” project launched

STOP PILFERAGFE --- Cotabato City Mayor Frances Chynthia Guiani-Sayadi (seated center) leads Colight management and barangay officials in posturing a triangle sign reflecting tri-cooperation to combat illegal electric tapping, thus, sparing further surcharges imposed on “honest” concessionaires who compensate for the losses.  (R.M. Tendero, Jr. with photo by City Government of Cotabato - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

WITH the aim of eradicating the problem on pilferage, the city government of Cotabato, the Cotabato Light and Power Company (Colight), and the Liga ng mga Barangay signed a memorandum of agreement for cooperation, a project which they call “tatsulok.”

The name “tatsulok” is coined after three parties, like the three sides of a triangle, joined one another in fighting against illegal tapping of electricity.

Illegal tapping has been identified by the Colight as one of the major problems of their concessionaires who are religiously paying their dues to the company.

Each agency has a role to play in this project. The barangay officials will be the ones to strictly monitor all electrical lines in their areas and report immediately to Colight management if they ever identify illegal tappers. Colight will then send its personnel to check the lines, remove the illegally tapped wires, and sanction the violators.

The city government, on the other hand, will conduct constant coordination among all its partner agencies to sustain the program and eventually eliminate pilferage.

Colight records indicate that illegal tapping is one of the main reasons why some households pay higher electrical bills than what they actually use.

City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi stated that the city government’s commitment is to uphold the law and remind Cotabateños that illegal tapping is a crime that is punishable.

“Just like theft and robbery, illegal tapping is also a crime that must not be practiced. With the Tatsulok project, each agency now has a clear picture of its role when it comes to eradicating pilferage. We will not tolerate even the smallest kind or violation here in Cotabato City,” the mayor said.

Aside from the high amount of electric bills, illegal tapping is also a cause of fire. When an electric line can no longer support the number of appliances attached to it, the line will cause a short circuit and result to fire.

The three agencies call on all Cotabateños to cooperate in this project and help fight illegal electric wire tapping. Once this practice will be eradicated, electric charges are expected to decrease and fire incidents will be avoided. (HALIMA SATOL-IBRAHIM - MINDANAO EXPOSE’)