Church and community leaders, together with the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE), sounded the alarm over consumer risks posed by the proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) between the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO) and Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) during a forum on December 13.
Speaker Eric Gonzales of Sipaway Seagrass Guardians urged wider public consultation in evaluating the JVA, warning against private or political interests shaping decisions, a press release from NICE said.
The forum also called for transparent and people-first conversation on the future of the province’s power distribution, warning that the deal may compromise consumer rights and public accountability.
Anchored on San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza’s pastoral letter, “For the Light of Truth and the Common Good,” the Diocese emphasized that electricity is a public good vital to community well-being and must not be reduced to a purely commercial commodity.
The forum convened parish priests, lay leaders, and NONECO member-consumer-owners (MCOs) to examine the implications of the proposed JVA and to deepen public understanding of the Church’s moral stance on the issue.
Participants raised concerns about transparency in the negotiation process, the need for cooperative reform, and the importance of safeguarding consumer welfare amid potential shifts in NONECO’s ownership and management.
Organizers said the event aimed to provide accessible and factual information on the potential effects of the JVA on consumers, workers, and cooperative governance.
The forum concluded with the launch of a joint Church-consumer campaign calling for participatory governance, public accountability, and the strengthening of the electric cooperative system.
The issues, questions, and recommendations gathered during the dialogue will be consolidated to support future consultations and advocacy efforts related to the proposed JVA.
The activity, hosted by Lunhaw Ecology Ministry of the Diocese of San Carlos and co-organized by NICE, gathered an estimated 70 participants from various sectors.*
