An aspiring lawmaker is pushing to spearhead the modernization of Albay province's electric cooperative if elected to represent the third district.

Addressing a business forum, Polangui Mayor and congressional candidate Raymond Adrian Salceda recounted how communities and businesses suffered from frequent power outages due to the Albay Electric Cooperative's (Aleco) insufficient power supply.

The forum, titled "Vision for Business: Candidates' Insights," was organized by the Albay Chamber of Commerce and Industry and radio station DZGB.

Salceda pledged to secure an initial P600 million as part of the P1.8 billion requirement for Aleco to acquire modern equipment and settle its debts.

"I will also support alternative sources of energy, among them wind and solar farms, and help big power consumers such as malls, commercial centers and industries form retail electricity suppliers under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act or Epira law," Salceda said.

He explained that large power consumers have the option to seek alternative energy sources if dissatisfied with traditional suppliers.

Salceda also committed to resolving water supply issues in his district and opposed privatizing water facilities. "Consumers should be protected from sudden spikes in rates and there are other viable programs to improve and rehabilitate water facilities," he said.

He noted that his plans would align with the "Global Albay" program of his father, outgoing Second District Representative Joey Salceda, who is running for governor and is already initiating Aleco's modernization by establishing substations across the province before his term ends in June.

Mayor Salceda, who previously served as Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay chair and is currently the president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Albay, outlined his priority programs under the acronym "HEART 4S," focusing on health, education, agriculture, rural infrastructure; tourism, trade and industry; and social services, senior citizens and solo parents, small and micro enterprises, and sports and youth development.