BACOLOD City – The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has confirmed the final result of the plebiscite ratifying the joint venture agreement (JVA) between Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) and Primelectric Holdings, Inc.
The plebiscite was conducted to determine the sentiments of majority of Ceneco’s member-consumers on the JVA.
Ceneco held plebiscites on June 24 and 25, Aug. 19 and 20, and Aug. 26 and 27.
In a memorandum dated Sept. 12 and addressed to Ceneco, NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda stated: “NEA confirms the final result of the plebiscite as determined, proclaimed, and submitted to it by the electric cooperative, with 98,591 votes for the approval of the JVA, and 6,899 votes against the same.”
The total number of eligible consumer-member-owners (MCOs) that participated in the plebiscite was 178,236.
Of this, 89,119 – which is 50 percent plus one of 178,236 – or a simple majority of Ceneco’s MCOs eligible to participate in the plebiscite, must vote for the approval of the JVA for the same to be compliant under Presidential Decree(PD) 269, known as the NEA decree.
NEA on Sept. 6 received a copy of Ceneco’s sworn certification dated Aug. 31 duly executed by Ceneco’s Board President Jojit Yap in accordance with the plebiscite guidelines.
The Sworn Certification certified, under oath, the final results of the plebiscite which, according to Ceneco, was based on the certificate of final and official canvass results endorsed to Ceneco’s Board of Directors by the Over-all Plebiscite Committee.NEA confirmed that majority of Ceneco’s MCOs eligible to participate in the plebiscite voted to approve the JVA.
The memo also directed Ceneco to submit the JVA to NEA for its consent in accordance with PD 269.
“Ceneco should be prepared to answer any questions or queries of the NEA on the JVA,” the memo further stated.
The NEA expressly reserved its right to impose further conditions for its consent to the JVA for the protection of the member-consumers of Ceneco, it added.
Almeda said Ceneco should also be ready to present a plan on how it intends to secure the consent of any other lending source which holds a lien on any of Ceneco’s properties as required under PD 269.
He cited that Section 53, Article IX of Ceneco’s plebiscite guidelines provides that NEA, thru the Office of Administrator, shall have the exclusive jurisdiction over all post-plebiscite protest.
Ceneco’s coverage areas include the cities of Bacolod, Bago, Talisay and Silay and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto, all in Negros Occidental.
The joint venture company of Ceneco and Primelectric is Negros Electric and Power Corp. or Negros Power./PN
