BACOLOD City – Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez favors the joint venture agreement (JVA) between Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) and Primelectric Holdings, Inc. / Negros Electric Power Corporation (NEPC) to improve power distribution in the cooperative’s franchise areas.
He is also asking the people of Bacolod City to vote “yes” for the JVA’s ratification in a plebiscite.
“We are looking for better service,” Benitez told journalists interviewing him on June 18 during the city’s 85th Charter Day anniversary celebration.
The JVA will take effect once majority (50 percent plus one) of Ceneco’s member-consumer-owners will ratify it in a plebiscite through a “yes” vote.
Benitez disclosed to the media he is voting “yes”.
There are about 214,000 consumer-members in the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay, and the towns of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto – the franchise areas of Ceneco.
“How do we bring about better service? Ceneco alone cannot move forward. How do we upgrade equipment, mautang?” mused Benitez.
He added: “Indi gane sila (Ceneco) ka-utang kay ila operation subong is saddled with inefficient operation. May utang pa sila mga P600 million to P800 million, makwa pa gid utang? Malubong na gid sila.”
A JVA with Primelectric is the answer, according to the mayor.
“What will it bring? It brings better service (and) lower electricity rates. Ano pa pangitaon ta? Tanan nga ingredients nga kinahanglan naton ara na sa JVA,” said Benitez.
On June 16, Primelectric – a sister company of MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power), the sole power distributor in Iloilo City – led by Roel Castro, the president and chief executive officer, gave Benitez and members of the city council a briefing at the City Mayor’s Office at the Bacolod City Government Center.
Afterwards, Benitez said he was satisfied with the presentation; the JVA met his conditions to support it, one of which is lower the electricity rates.
“Siling nila, through JVA ang systems loss manaog. Instead of eight-point-something percent subong, ma-five percent na lang. Daku na ina nga bagay. Ang efficiency sang distribution utility should be improved,” according to Benitez.
He added that on Day 1 of the JVA’s taking effect, Primelectric will invest P2 billion for the CAPEX (capital expenditure).
“Bal-an ta nga ang mga equipment outdated and this causes brownouts and power fluctuations. They are due for replacement,” said Benitez.
Primelectric is also amenable to the request of the mayor for “green power” or renewable energy.
Benitez likewise cited the endorsement of Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas of the JVA.
“Ang iya experience with MORE Power didto, siling nya, wala gid sia kuno nagsala,” he said.
With MORE Power as electricity distributor, Iloilo City now enjoys lower rates and steady electricity supply.
According to Power Watch Negros Advocates secretary general Wennie Sancho, Ceneco is facing multifarious problems as an ailing electric cooperative.
“If this JVA is intended to rehabilitate and overhaul the power infrastructure of Ceneco, level up its technical operation by applying state-of-the-art technologies and gadgets, and provide affordable, reliable and efficient power supply, we will not interpose any objection,” he said./PN
