• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An alliance of multi sectoral groups in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental have openly declared their support to the proposed Joint Venture Agreement between Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) and Ignite Power and Energy Holdings, Inc. (MORE Power).
The multi sectoral groups, composed of the Utilities Consumers Advocates for Reforms (UCARE), General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), National Congress of Union in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP), Commercial Agro Industrial Labor Organization (CAILO), United Sugar Farmers Organization (USFD), United KCI Labor Union, Power Watch Negros, Multi Sectoral Alliance for Solidarity and Advocacy, Negros Labor Forum, banded together with Ceneco consumers to express their support to the JVA, and urged Ceneco and IGNITE Power to expedite the process of finalizing it.
The covenant of solidarity signed by representatives of various sectoral groups states that “JVA is now a necessity,” citing the recent power disturbance in Western Visayas, and the yellow alert in the Visayas grid.
They also stressed the need for an urgent call for the implementation of the JVA, sooner rather than later.
“The delay of JVA means also to prolong the agony of the Ceneco consumers. The longer, the more we have to suffer,” Power Watch Negros secretary general Wennie Sancho said.
In a joint statement, the multi sectoral groups said that “they are fully convinced that the JVA shall pave the new era in the history of power industry in Negros Occidental where the consumers shall have robust and reliable power supply, with prompt and efficient services,” based on their personal observations on their trip to MORE Power facilities in Iloilo City, and favorable feedbacks from the business sector, local government officials, and even from the Church.
The ceremonial signing of the “Covenant of Solidarity” by the multi sectoral groups held at the Negros Press Club in Bacolod City, came several days after the launching of Anti-Ceneco-JVA Coalition, which registered opposition to the proposed JVA.
Oppositors claimed that the proposed JVA is “inimical and grossly disadvantageous to the power utility firm’s consumers and employees.”
The labor sector and Power Watch Negros advocates, in a statement, however, said they strongly believe that due to mismanagement and corruption, Ceneco is suffering from financial hemorrhage, stressing also that the distribution facility is on the road to bankruptcy due to its huge system loss and financial indebtedness.
“Ceneco needs a new lease on life, and JVA is the lifesaving machine that shall save Ceneco from death,” they further stressed.
They added that the JVA will rehabilitate the infrastructure of Ceneco by installing state of the art technologies and equipment that would level up of distribution facility operations.*
