Marañon suggests merging existing electricity cooperatives

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

In response to Bacolod City lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya sponsoring HB 8827, which seeks to grant the Gamboa-Hermanos Farmworkers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GHFMPC) the right to “construct, install, establish, operate, own, manage, and maintain distribution systems” to power Negros, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. questioned the capability of a farmer cooperative to run the province’s power distribution system.

“What are their capabilities? Their experience? Do they have the capital?” he questioned.

The governor also believes the existing power cooperatives operating in the province, the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Northern Negros Electric Cooperative, and Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative, would go bankrupt if operations are shifted to GHFMPC.

Marañon, however, offered an alternative and suggested merging the three co-ops.

“[It] will be more efficient,” he explained. “It will also reduce the system loss.”

Earlier, former Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella also questioned the position, saying, “The incumbent congressman has a lot of questions to answer.”

He believes, if passed, it would “hurt every consumer in Negros” as it will reportedly “increase electricity bills.”

The issue previously came to light after Surigao Electric Cooperative and Dinagat Island Electric Cooperative General Manager Sergio Dago-oc said five pending bills have been submitted to the Lower House seeking franchises for private corporations in areas where an electric cooperative is already operating.

He said, if these bills pass, “Power consumers will have to pay higher electric bills.”/DGB, WDJ