It was February 25, 1978 when one of Kabankalan most successful sons, Engr. Leonardo G. Coloso, NEA Administrator came to witness the momentous event of registration and incorporation of NOCECO. It was the beginning of the realization of the negrenses’ dream to have a cheap, dependable and stable electric service.
Administrator Coloso said that Kabankalan would be energized in a matter of time, yet he said, that as a temporary measure, he would send a generating set, to light Kabankalan. The first energization came on January 12, 1979. Thus, a promised was fulfilled.
NOCECO for its area coverage, would have Pulupandan, San Enrique, Valladolid, Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, Ilog, Candoni, Cauyan, Sipalay, Hinoba-an and La Carlota City.
LEONARDO G. COLOSO
The son of Kabankalan who brought light this part of Negros
Upon the organization of the Electrification Administration (EA) on October 1, 1962, the Agency had a total 142 personnel. As the EA grew in clientele among electric utilities, it needed more personnel, until it had 241 employees in 1965. Among the pioneers in rural electrification was Leonardo G. Coloso, who would continue his employment to the new Agency, the National Electrification Administratio (NEA) and would later be at the helm of the rural electrification program as Administrator.
“Narding” Coloso was born in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. His career in government spanned 27 years, starting as Engineering Assistant in the Bureau of Public Works now DPWH, Administration of Bacolod City Waterworks, and later as Deputy Administrator for Administration and Finance of EA and capping his government service as Administrator of NEA in 1978-1979.
Academically trained as Civil Engineer with a degree from Mapua Institute of Technology, Coloso was further honed in power industry with special studies he attended on power development, rural electrification, cooperatives organization and management at organizations, agencies and universities in the United States.
