The Current of Progress: High-Performing Electric Cooperatives in the Visayas

The Visayas region has emerged as a formidable economic powerhouse. Central Visayas remains the fastest-growing regional economy in the Philippines. In 2024, the region recorded a robust 7.3% growth rate, significantly outpacing the national average of 5.7%.

Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas has transitioned into a period of renewed stability and is currently ranked as the 5th fastest-growing regional economy in the country. In 2024, the region posted a 6.2% growth rate, driven largely by its services sector.

Investment in the Visayas remains a high priority for the national government, with ₱96.17 billion allocated for the region under the 2026 General Appropriations Act. Key projects set for 2026 include the Fourth Cebu-Mactan Bridge and the Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Bridge Connector, both aimed at decentralizing traffic and boosting industrial zones.

While the economic landscape of the Visayas is rapidly modernizing, the region faces unique challenges. The Visayas grid often maintains the thinnest reserve margins in the country, leading to frequent yellow alerts. This high-pressure environment makes the performance of local distribution cooperatives even more critical to regional stability.

(Also read: Eastern Visayas LGUs Unite To Accelerate Clean Energy Transition)

Exceptional Electric Cooperatives in the Visayas

While the Visayas grid faces significant pressure, some of the region’s electric cooperatives have maintained high operational standards based on the National Electrification Administration (NEA) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Below are some of the Visayas’ top-performing cooperatives. All have maintained the “AAA” rating, the highest classification given by the NEA, which evaluates electric cooperatives across four key areas: financial performance, covering financial management, collection efficiency and overall viability; institutional performance, which examines governance practices, member participation and compliance with the Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA); technical performance, which measures system reliability, outage management and distribution efficiency; and reportorial compliance, which ensures the timely submission of required operational and financial reports.

Leyte V Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LEYECO V)

LEYECO V has emerged as one of the most accomplished electric cooperatives in the Visayas, distinguished by both its operational reach and its record of national recognition. The cooperative distributes electricity across Ormoc City and eleven municipalities in Leyte: Merida, Isabel, Palompon, Villaba, Tabango, San Isidro, Calubian, Leyte, Matag-ob, Kananga, and Albuera, covering more than 400 barangays in the province’s western and northern areas.

Through decades of expansion, the cooperative has grown from a modest network of 21 kilometers of lines in 1979 to more than 1,200 kilometers of distribution lines, serving over 80,000 member-consumer-owners today.

What sets LEYECO V apart in the Visayas is its consistent recognition for operational excellence. In 2025, the cooperative received 14 national awards during the joint ceremony of the NEA Lumens Awards and the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (PHILRECA) Awards from the Wires.

These honors recognized achievements in key areas of electric cooperative performance, including Best Collection Efficiency, Single-Digit Feeder Loss, Top Performing Electric Cooperative, and the Compact of Cooperation Award, which acknowledges support for other cooperatives in the sector.

LEYECO V also received distinctions such as the Consistent Green Electric Cooperative Award and the Sinag Award for Free Household Energization, reflecting its commitment to both operational efficiency and rural electrification.

The cooperative has also partnered with local groups to enhance electrification efforts beyond its core grid. It strengthened coordination with the Municipality of Calubian, introducing infrastructure updates tied to the Higatangan Island energization project via submarine cable and advancing distribution upgrades under the Barangay Line Enhancement Program. Such collaborations are integral to expanding reliable electricity access in remote island communities and preparing for future demand growth.

In addition to network and service initiatives, the cooperative has engaged in community development and school support programs. In 2024, LEYECO V participated in Brigada Eskwela activities, providing solar lamps, electrical materials, and infrastructure assessments at San Ignacio Elementary School in Kananga to improve learning environments.

Cebu III Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEBECO III)

CEBECO III serves the City of Toledo and the municipalities of Pinamungajan, Aloguinsan, Balamban, and Asturias on the western side of Cebu province, as well as several mountain barangays of Cebu City, Talisay, and Minglanilla.

Over the decades, it has been recognized repeatedly for strong operational performance, including the “Ultra Mega Diamond” Lumens of Excellent Performance Award from the NEA, which commends outstanding results across multiple operational areas. Past distinctions also include the Single Digit System Loss Award, Best in Collection Performance, and multiple recognitions for leadership and governance excellence.

Most recently at the 2025 NEA Lumens Awards, its General Manager, Virgilio “Jomoy” Fortich, Jr., was honored with the Best General Manager Award for his leadership both within CEBECO III and in support of other cooperatives—a testament to its influence and reputation within the sector.

In November 2025, after Typhoon Tino struck Cebu and the Visayas, utility firms, including CEBECO III, were working around the clock on power restoration and damage assessments across affected areas. CEBECO III reported that several barangays within its coverage had already been re‑energized, even as crews continued system checks and restoration activities. Local reports noted CEBECO III’s personnel working double‑time on post‑storm assessments and restoration, reflecting continued operational resilience in responding to severe weather events.

CEBECO III also invests in system upgrades and distribution infrastructure, as indicated by ongoing notices of procurement for distribution poles, conductors, and transformers, aimed at strengthening its network and enhancing reliability for member‑consumer‑owners.

Bohol I Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BOHECO I)

BOHECO I is a leading electric cooperative in the Visayas, serving the northern and eastern municipalities of Bohol, including Tagbilaran City, Tubigon, Clarin, Loon, Calape, Antequera, Maribojoc, Balilihan, Cortes, and Sikatuna.

The cooperative has been repeatedly recognized for operational excellence. It has received top distinctions from the NEA, including the Golden Dagitab Award, the Most Outstanding EC Award, and the AAA Electric Cooperative rating. These accolades reflect achievements across financial, technical, and institutional performance areas, including Single Digit System Loss, Best in Collection Performance, and 100 % household electrification.

In addition to awards, BOHECO I has strengthened its infrastructure and community programs. It achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification, an international standard that demonstrates a company’s commitment to consistent quality management and continuous improvement. The cooperative has implemented e‑billing systems available via SMS, email, or the website. Through its Adopt‑A‑School Program with the Department of Education (DepEd), BOHECO I has supported education with initiatives such as electrical safety improvements and student recognition awards like the Medallion of Excellence, plus programs that provide school supplies.

BOHECO I also focuses on consumer-friendly rate management, maintaining stable electricity costs despite fluctuations in generation and transmission fees, which benefits households and small businesses throughout its service area.

Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO)

CAPELCO is the main provider of power distribution in Capiz, serving a broad rural and urban area that includes municipalities such as Roxas City, Maayon, Pilar, Pontevedra, Dao, Tapaz, Jamindan, Dumalag, and others across the province. According to legislative documentation, CAPELCO has delivered electricity to almost all households in Capiz, achieving an electrification rate that exceeds 100 % with more than 187,000 active connections and serving an estimated 853,000 residents in its service territory.

The cooperative’s reliability and operational excellence have been recognized by the NEA. It has maintained a solid performance, securing an “AAA” rating for seven consecutive years and, more recently, earning a “Green Electric Cooperative” rating, which signifies that the cooperative consistently met all key performance standards with minimal intervention required by the NEA.

CAPELCO has also responded to broader community and emergency needs through cooperative outreach efforts. Under the Task Force Kapatid program, a nationwide initiative where electric cooperatives assist each other during emergencies, CAPELCO deployed its personnel to help restore power in Guimaras and Negros following typhoon disruptions in 2022.

On the ground, CAPELCO is working with local government partners to electrify remote schools and sitios that previously lacked electricity. In 2025, it launched efforts to bring power to 14 off‑grid schools in Tapaz and nearly 400 households across many sitios in Capiz through extension lines and solar systems under the Sitio Electrification Program.

Furthermore, CAPELCO has taken steps to protect its system integrity and financial health by instituting stiffer penalties for power pilferage and reinforcing policies to deter illegal connections that can increase system losses.

(Also read: Why Cebu Deserves Lower Rates and Reliable Energy Now)

Sustaining the Visayas’ Energy Momentum

The Visayas’ economic rise is mirrored by the exceptional performance of its electric cooperatives, like LEYECO V, CEBECO III, BOHECO I, and CAPELCO. Beyond reliable electricity, they have expanded rural electrification, implemented innovative billing systems, and supported schools and local communities.

These cooperatives not only ensure energy stability in a high-pressure grid but also drive socio-economic development across the region, proving that strong, well-managed utilities are vital partners in the Visayas’ ongoing growth and modernization.

Sources:

https://dro7.depdev.gov.ph/cv-is-phs-fastest-growing-economy-anew-posts-7-3-growth-rate-in-2024

https://pia.gov.ph/news/e-visayas-moderate-inflation-rate-signals-positive-economic-outlook

https://pia.gov.ph/news/dpwh-pushes-transparent-infrastructure-spending-under-2026-budget

https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2026/01/20/725055/10-major-players-in-the-philippine-electricity-sector-2/

https://asepcells.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SSRN-id3688055.pdf

https://www.leyeco-v.com.ph/about-us

https://leyeco-v.com.ph/events/55

https://leyeco-v.com.ph/events/65

https://leyeco-v.com.ph/events/37

https://www.cebeco3.com.ph/

https://www.cebeco3.com.ph/awards-and-recognitions