BACOLOD City – Power Watch Negros (PWN) lambasted the Responsible Supervisors and Confidential Union of Employees (RESCUE) of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) for opposing a proposed joint venture agreement (JVA).
PWN secretary general Wennie Sancho said RESCUE’s opposition was “a ploy to put the JVA in a bad light” out of fear of losing supervisory and confidential positions with alleged excessive salaries, fat bonuses and allowances.
“It is very clear that their opposition against the proposed JVA is to protect their vested interests and not those of the consumers,” added Sancho.
The local energy advocacy group also said RESCUE’s claim that the JVA is detrimental is an unfounded conclusion over something that is yet to be debated and drafted.
Sancho also clarified that PWN is open to the proposed JVA as long as it advances the welfare of consumers, but will be the first to reject it if it is grossly disadvantageous.
“If this upcoming JVA is intended to rehabilitate and overhaul the power infrastructure of Ceneco to level up its technical operation and correct the dismal failure of Ceneco in providing affordable, reliable and efficient power supply, we will not interpose any objections,” said Sancho.
The local energy advocacy group also urged the National Electrification Administration to declare Ceneco an “ailing cooperative”.
On his part, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez expressed support for any proposed development to Ceneco’s services with three specific conditions: it must lower electricity rates, reduce instances of power outages, and use renewable energy./PN
