A COUPLE of months ago, I wrote in my column these lines from Bacolod City mMayor Albee Benitez: “JVA is a White Knight that would save our consumers from a looming disaster.”
It seems that the “White Knight” is finally riding into town.
Then just last week I ended my column with these lines: “Nong Moroy soon goes to Bacolod to light up the City of Smiles.”
Well, those lines above did age well and proved prophetic.
‘YES’ VOTE WINS
Clear Decision: Ceneco Member-Consumers Favor JVA
Majority of Central Negros Electric Cooperative’s (CENECO) member-consumers approved the joint venture agreement (JVA) of the power utility with Primelectric Holdings, Inc. / Negros Electric Power Corporation (NEPC).
The “yes” vote for the JVA dominated the series of plebiscites conducted recently.
In the sixth and final plebiscite held on Aug. 27, there were 98,591 “yes” votes (55.53 percent) while there were 6,899 “no” votes, data from the Overall Plebiscite Committee (OPC) showed.
To ratify the JVA, 88,870 of the majority (50 percent plus one) of the 177,737 eligible voters of CENECO are needed. (PN 8/29/2023)
The final results of this plebiscite will be, according to CENECO acting general manager Arnel Lapore, presented in a report to be submitted to the National Electrification Administration (NEA).
With the final hurdle done, it’s all systems go for the JVA.
Prior to this overwhelming victory in the plebiscite, Primelectric/Negros Electric Power Corporation (sister company of MORE Power, the sole power distribution utility of “I Am Iloilo City”) president and chief executive officer Roel Castro and his team presented to Negros Occidental Provincial Consultant on Energy and Environment and Central Negros Electric Cooperative acting general manager Atty. Arnel Lapore the detailed five-year Development Plan of the JV Company.
And this included, upon execution, an actual payment of 70 percent of the value (P2.4 billion) of the distribution assets of CENECO and its 30 percent share in the joint venture company.
There is also a concrete and doable program for reducing systems losses that will lead to lower and affordable power rates.
The JV Company, Negros Electric Power Corp., will pour in at least P2 billion in capital expenditures to be used in the massive system rehabilitation leading to 24/7 power supply, lower occurrence of unscheduled power interruptions (UPI), more efficient operations, and reasonable power rates.
On top of that will be a proactive information system, using the latest technologies to monitor service areas, and a state-of-the-art customer care program, which means faster response to requests of consumers.
Meanwhile, qualified employees of CENECO will be given preference in the hiring with adequate compensation.
As shown by MORE Power in Iloilo City, the joint venture will have corporate social responsibilities and partnerships to help communities, local government units, and barangays.
Not only that, CENECO, having a 30-percent equity in the joint venture corporation, will have representation in the governing board.
The CENECO franchise areas that will be under the watch of the JV Company are the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay, Silay and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto, all in Negros Occidental.
Finally, what comes to mind were these words from “I Am Iloilo City” Mayor Jerry Treñas: “I am a very satisfied customer of MORE Power,” with the same brand of service and commitment expect its sister company Primelectric/Negros Electric Power Corporation to do the same and probably more for Bacolod.
It does look like come the next MassKara Festival, the electric MassKara portion will indeed be shining more brightly./PN
