• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Around 80 to 90 households at the Arao Relocation Site 2 in Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, will soon have electricity after years without electrical connections.
Mayor Greg Gasataya and City Administrator, Atty. Mark Steven Mayo, met with the residents at the MICES (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences for Education and Sports) gym in the barangay June 17, and announced the electrification initiative, that is a joint effort between the city government and the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC).
“The arrangement is that they will provide the temporary posts (for) electrical tapping. They will install temporary posts so that power can be connected to each household,” the mayor said.
NEPC has agreed to install the temporary electrical poles and infrastructure in the area to jumpstart the power connections.
It will set up the posts as soon as 50 percent of the affected residents submit their applications.
“On the part of our residents, they will apply with NEPC for their power connection, and we will assist them with their electrical permits, their application with the OBO (Office of the Building Official), and other requirements, including the certification from the Bacolod Housing proving that they are the official awardees here at the relocation site,” Gasataya added.
The temporary setup will serve the site while the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA) completes its bidding procedures for permanent line construction.
Gasataya committed to use his salary to pay the OBO permit fee of P376 each household.
The city government will also pay for the required signature of the electrical engineer, ensuring that all processes comply with BHA requirements.
The residents will only need to pay for their individual home service entrances, the city said. | TMD
