Cabanatuan Electric Corp turns 107
Cabanatuan Electric Corp. (Celcor) marked its 107th anniversary last Jan. 14, with the theme “Innovation Toward a Changing Energy Landscape.”
Suggestive of the need of the time, the theme underscores Celcor ’ s corporate thrust as it continues to serve as an active partner of the city government in the social and economic development of Cabanatuan.
Highlight of the one- day celebration was the granting of awards and citations, including cash gift to outstanding employees.
Hailed as Cabanatuan City’s engine of economic growth, Celcor started as a small palay threshing, milling, and warehousing business in 1910. Incorporated as “Sociedad Anonima Magsasaka,” the enterprise was re- incorporated as “Samahang Magsasaka Inc (SMI) on March 5, 1915.”
On March 8, 1919, the corporation ventured into the business of generating and distributing electricity, prompting it to change its name to Cabanatuan Electric Corporation.
In 1994, to overcome the nationwide energy crisis, Celcor entered into a joint venture with First Cabanatuan Ventures Corp. (FCVC) to put up a P300 million, 12.8 Megawatt power-generating plant in Sitio Mampulog, Barangay Bitas.
Managed by then FCVC president and chief executive officer Rosanna Vergara, the Bitas Power Plant has since been generating and supplying Celcor’s electricity requirements at a lower purchase cost, resulting in millions of pesos worth of savings for the latter and reliable, stable and affordable source of electricity for the consumers.
Today, Celcor services 61,999 residential customers 7,786 commercial establishments and 49 industrial consumers in Cabanatuan, which in 2008 was rated and chosen by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) as one of the nation’s best mid- size cities in which to live, work and do business.
Earlier, Celcor inaugurated its new and modern office building in Bitas Cabanatuan City.
“As Cabanatuan becomes more developed and more progressive so does Celcor too,” Celcor’s corporate communications department head Christopher Duldulao said.