By Mae Singuay
The chair of Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod’s (SP) committee on energy and public utilities said the joint venture agreement (JVA) between Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) and Primelectric Holdings, Inc. is the “best choice.”
Committee chair, Claudio Jesus Puentevella said, during Primelectric’s JVA presentation led by its president and chief executive officer Roel Castro yesterday, the agreement between the two electric cooperatives will benefit consumers in Ceneco’s franchise areas.
Primelectric is the sister company of MORE Electric and Power Corporation.
“This JVA is the answer for the problems which have been suffering for so long by the consumers. I am in favor of it,” Puentevella said.
The committee conducted a public consultation at SP Session Hall at the Bacolod City Government Center after receiving several position papers from groups that are in favor or against the JVA.
Some important points in the JVA were discussed, including Primelectric initially investing P2 billion for the improvement of facilities to solve frequent brownouts.
Incentives will be offered for consumers later on, most especially if Ceneco could lower system losses which affect electricity rates.
Puentevella said after both sides have been presented in the public consultation, he will submit a committee report to the city council so that the other members of the SP will be updated about the JVA.
Meanwhile, Castro also answered important questions from position papers of anti-JVA groups, Puentevella added.
He described that the discussions during the consultation were smooth and orderly.
On Saturday, June 3, Castro, Ceneco president Jojit Yap and acting general manager Arnel Lapore spearheaded the Primelectric-Ceneco JVA signing at a restaurant in Bacolod.
Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Abang Lingkod Party-list Representative Stephen Paduano, and several punong barangays in the coverage areas of Ceneco witnessed the event.
Ceneco’s franchise areas include Bacolod City and Negros Occidental cities of Silay, Talisay and Bago; and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto./MS, WDJ