• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has expressed full support to the proposed bill filed by three Negros Occidental legislators seeking to grant a franchise to the Negros Electric Power Corp. (NEPC) to acquire and operate a power distribution facility under the area currently covered by Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco).
“A clear mandate was given by the member-consumers of Ceneco through a referendum approving the joint venture agreement (JVA) between Ceneco and NEPC,” Lacson said yesterday.
The proposed franchise area includes the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay, Bago as well as the municipalities of Murcia and Salvador Benedicto under House Bill 9310 filed by Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Paduano, Third District Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez, and Fourth District Rep. Juliet Marie Ferrer.
Lacson, who has supported the yes vote for the JVA, said granting a franchise to NEPC is part of the process.
Ceneco, whose franchise will expire in 2030, allegedly faces constraints due to its reliance on limited funding, no additional capital expenditures, and lack of access to modern technology.
For its part, NEPC said it is infusing an initial capital of P2 billion to rehabilitate and modernize electric power distribution to make it reliable and efficient to consumers, businesses, institutions, and other users within its franchise area. Among the complaints against Ceneco are power outages, voltage fluctuations, poorly-maintained lines, inadequate investment in distribution facilities, inordinate delay in the restoration of power services, overbilling/overcharging, and poor customer relations, among others, the explanatory note of HB 9310 said. | GB
