BACOLOD City – A total of 121 electric cooperatives in the country held a “Black Valentine’s Day” protest yesterday.
This was after the Philippine Electric Cooperatives Association urged them to contest the Department of Energy’s (DOE) plan to cancel the franchise of some 17 electric cooperatives.
The franchise cancellation is “precedence” for the revocation of other electric cooperatives in the country, according to Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) Institutional Services manager Lolita Jayme.
Jayme added that businessmen will take over the power industry should the cooperatives’ licenses are revoked.
Personnel from the electric cooperatives wore black shirts to show their opposition on the DOE proposal. The protest will continue until today.
Despite Ceneco being not among those whose franchise will be revoked by the DOE, Jayme still called for its member-consumers’ support./PN
