• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The proposed Joint Venture Agreement between the IGNITE Power, also known as the Negros Electric and Power Corporation, and Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco), got the support of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer.
This was after the two top Negros Occidental officials, Salvador Benedicto Mayor Marxlen de la Cruz, and representatives of local chief executives of the cities of Silay, Talisay, and Bago, as well as Murcia, Board Members Manuel Frederick Ko, and Andrew Montelibano, were briefed yesterday by Roel Castro, president of MORE Power and IGNITE Power, on the proposed JVA between them and Ceneco at Negros Residences in Bacolod City.
With the presentation of Castro, at least we understood the intention of MORE Power, basing it also on their experience in Iloilo, Lacson said.
“I think that it will be to our advantage, because they knew already how to bring down the frequency of power interruptions, and how to bring down the system loss,” the governor said.
If this happens, it will redound to the advantage of consumers, Lacson stressed.
Asked if he is okay on MORE Power, “personally, I believe in the management of MORE Power,” he said.
Ferrer also expressed his support to the proposed JVA.
“What is more advantageous to the consumers, that will be my decision,” he stressed.
Asked by Ferrer on the advantages of JVA between their company and Ceneco, Castro said the system loss, which is an offshoot of electricity pilferage, among others, and is being charged by distribution utility to consumers, will go down as he assured that the rehabilitation, capacity, and quality of power will be addressed.
Castro reported that MORE Power was able to bring down the system loss in Iloilo from 30 percent to 6.5 percent in three years of operations, and invested more than P2 billion in the same period, for rehabilitation and improvement of services of the electric cooperative.
If JVA with CENECO is approved, Castro said they will invest P1.5 billion in Ceneco starting on Day 1 of operations.
Castro also said they need the support of Negros Occidental solons for the approval of its franchise by Congress, if the proposed JVA gets the concurrence of Ceneco consumers.
With regards to the application of the franchise, it will be forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental for discussion and approval, Lacson said.
The JVA should be given a chance, the governor said.
In his briefing, Castro said they are now reviewing the power contracts of Ceneco, to find ways and means on how to lower power rates if the JVA is approved.
He also appears to be unfazed by the opposition of some sectors of society to the JVA, stressing that it only needs massive information and education campaign.
On the employees of Ceneco, Castro said they will not bring organic employees from Iloilo to Ceneco, but hire local ones instead.
As stipulated in the JVA proposals, Ceneco employees who would be separated will be paid either separation or retirement pay by Ceneco, in accordance with applicable laws and the Union’s CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement).
Castro, however, said they can still re-apply in the new company.*
