The Batangas II Electric Cooperative Inc. (BATELEC II) has formally approved the use of a public bidding and competitive selection process as the governing framework for evaluating potential private sector partners in its distribution operations, strengthening its push for transparency in utility management.

The decision establishes a structured system for private sector participation, with the Board of Directors unanimously adopting the Competitive Selection Process to ensure fairness, openness, and equal opportunity among prospective investors and service providers.

Batangas II Electric Cooperative Inc. said the move reflects its commitment to aligning cooperative governance with regulatory standards while safeguarding the interests of member-consumers.

The framework also requires the cooperative’s Technical Working Group to draft the Terms of Reference that will guide the bidding process in accordance with existing energy laws and National Electrification Administration guidelines.

Instead of immediately engaging potential partners, the cooperative will first define the rules, evaluation standards, and safeguards that will govern any future selection. Officials said this sequencing is intended to ensure that all proposals are assessed under clearly established and legally defensible criteria.

The Board also emphasized that any eventual partnership involving cooperative assets or franchise operations may still require approval from member-consumers through a referendum, reinforcing the role of stakeholder participation in major institutional decisions.

Electric cooperatives across the country have increasingly explored private sector partnerships as part of efforts to improve efficiency, strengthen operations, and enhance service delivery.

BATELEC II’s adoption of a formal competitive selection framework reflects a broader trend toward more structured and transparent governance models in the power distribution sector.