Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, clarified that employees of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) would not be automatically absorbed by Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power).
This was stressed by Senator Poe, who presided over the committee hearing on March 5, regarding the franchise of Negros Power.
Senator Poe said that while there are employees of CENECO who are excellent in their jobs and deserve to be absorbed, there are also lazy employees.
So, it will be unfair to the joint venture company if they hire them automatically, the lady senator stressed.
Senator Poe also advocated that the hiring of employees should be based on performance, and not on the age, gender, or appearance of the employee.
The senator also believes that a joint venture company needs people who are working and are dedicated to their jobs, to guarantee its success.
“So employment is not a right; you also have to be able to fulfill your responsibilities,” Poe said, as she also assured CENECO employees that the granting of the franchise would be beneficial to them.
The Joint Venture Agreement between CENECO and Primelectric/NEPC, and the proposed franchise, gives CENECO employees priority in the hiring of its workforce.
Negros Power President Roel Castro informed the senator that there are more than 250 employees of CENECO that have already submitted their applications, and they are now in the process of hiring.
In the hearing, Senator Poe also emphasized the need for capitalization in a distribution utility service to support the progress of the franchise area.
In a statement, Negros Power claimed that Senator Poe also said that CENECO can no longer provide the necessary expertise in developing areas.*
