• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
MORE Power executives are set to meet with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and members of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod, to present plans on the proposed Joint Venture Agreement with Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco).
Benitez said he is inviting the public to attend the presentation of MORE Power, which will be either next week or after the Holy Week.
“Let us look at the track record of the proponents,” the mayor said. He, however said he was told by Mayor Jerry Treñas that the latter is “very happy” with the services of MORE Power in Iloilo.
“Let us listen to them, argue based on merit and make a decision,” he stressed.
Ceneco’s rates are at P15 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) while MORE Power sells electricity in Iloilo City at P13 per kWh as of February.
“If the power rate is low and there is stable supply, then we will support whoever runs our distribution system,” Benitez also said.
The proposed Joint Venture Agreement also appeared to gain support, this time from Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
In the case of Iloilo, Lacson said he noted that electricity rates went down after MORE Power took over the power distribution facility – Panay Electric Co. (PECO).
As a consumer, that is what we are looking for – steady supply of power, and the same time, more affordable rates, the governor stressed.
Acting Ceneco General Manager Arnel Lapore earlier confirmed that MORE Power and Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) submitted an unsolicited proposal for a joint venture undertaking with the electric cooperative.*
