The recent power outage in Barangays Handumanan, Alijis, Mansilingan, and other areas in Bacolod City, which left thousands of residents without electricity for over 48 hours, starkly highlights the failures of privatization, a press release from Bayan-Negros said.
The incident is a preview of what consumers in Central Negros will have to face under the management of the Razon-owned Negros Power through the joint venture deal of Negros Electric Power Corp. (NEPC).
The breakdown of the 37 megavolt amperes (MVA) power transformer at the Alijis substation and Negros Power’s inept response to it, serves as a critical example of how privatization falls short of its promises. Despite their sloganeering of improved efficiency and service, the reality has been a lack of preparedness and an inability to manage critical infrastructure effectively.
According to the statement, they were so hell-bent on railroading the takeover of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO), going so far as bribing consumers into consenting to the joint venture agreement, and yet they could not foresee such problems ahead and make actionable steps that will not make consumers suffer. We are also seeing the effect of the layoff of more than 300 workers of CENECO, including linemen who have decades of experience in troubleshooting problems during outages.
But this is exactly how privatization is supposed to work: the pursuit of profit often comes at the expense of reliable public service. With NEPC also looking at a takeover of Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (NOCECO) in Southern Negros, it is clear that capitalist vultures eye to island for the privatization of all public utilities, the statement added.
In fact, while the outages were ongoing, the Villar-owned Primewater also announced water interruptions in several barangays in Bacolod City. Even before this announcement, Primewater has failed to deliver on its promises of improving on the services of Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA), and instead continues to deliver coffee-colored water and irregular service to residents of the City.
Hundreds of thousands of consumers must recognize that as long as basic human rights such as electricity and water are controlled by capitalists, we will continually be at a disadvantage. When we were stakeholders in our electric cooperative, we had the power to hold them accountable for their failures. Now, under private management, consumer interests are sidelined as these companies prioritize profit over addressing our needs.
The problem extends beyond just public utilities. Under Mayor Albee Benitez’s leadership, corporate interests are being prioritized over crucial issues like land, housing, and even our seas, with looming reclamation projects on the horizon. Behind the allure of the “Smart City” are consumers, urban poor, and other marginalized sectors, reeling in the effects of privatization and corporate take-overs. We must hold these leaders accountable, as they act merely as conduits for local and foreign capital, ready to sell out the people’s interests to enrich themselves.
Bayan Negros urged consumers in Bacolod City and across Negros Island to mobilize in the thousands, to demonstrate to these profit-driven corporations and their lackeys in local government that they are outnumbered by a determined populace. It is time to stand united and ensure that our essential services serve the people, not just corporate greed.*
