The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has suspended for up to 60 days the conduct of the plebiscite for the proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) between the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) and Primelectric Holdings Inc. (PHI).
NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda issued the order in a memorandum dated July 4, addressed to Ceneco board president Jojit Yap and acting general manager Arnel Lapore, ahead of the remaining dates of the six-day plebiscite set on July 8 and 9.
“Concerned NEA personnel and Ceneco shall submit periodic progress reports on the accomplishments of the directive,” he added.
Almeda said the NEA is acting on the request of the six local chief executives from the coverage area of Ceneco led by Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez as stated in their letter dated July 3, and grants the assistance they have requested.
He told the Ceneco officials to “verify and confirm,” with the direct participation of designated NEA personnel, the accuracy of the voters’ list to ensure that only those eligible to vote are included.
Almeda also ordered to “secure any and all systems, protocols, and/or procedures to carry out the plebiscite” to ensure that these “conform with the verified and confirmed voters’ list to be vetted by the NEA.”
“The NEA, to reiterate, has no interest in whether the JVA is approved or disapproved. It is, however, concerned with the protection of the Ceneco member-consumer-owners (MCOs) in that their votes are properly accounted for, and that the legitimate processes wherein they exercise these rights are protected,” Almeda added.
In the letter addressed sent to NEA, Benitez was joined by Mayors Nicholas Yulo of Bago City, Nilo Jesus Antonio “Niel” Lizares III of Talisay City, Joedith Gallego of Silay City, Gerry Rojas of Murcia town, and Laurence Marxlen de la Cruz of Don Salvador Benedicto town in requesting to suspend the plebiscite and verify the list of voters, based on several complaints they have received from member-consumer-owners.
“We are convinced that this is the only way to ensure that this plebiscite reflects the real choice of the bonafide member-consumers of Ceneco to properly decide the fate of the JVA,” they added.
Data showed that Ceneco serves around 210,000 consumers, but the number of eligible voters is only 192,188.
Lapore had earlier said the ratification process is part of the guidelines set by the NEA, following the signing of the proposed deal between Yap and PHI president and chief executive officer Roel Castro on June 3.
The JVA aims to infuse capital and financial resources into the electric cooperative’s distribution system, through the joint venture company called the Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC).
PHI is an affiliate of power distribution utility MORE Power Iloilo.
Lapore said under the JVA, Ceneco will have 30 percent ownership of NEPC, which is worth more than P800 million, while PHI will own the 70 percent equivalent to P1.4 billion.
“The experience and undertakings currently done in Iloilo City [are considered] as our inspiration and model in having this JVA,” Lapore added.
Various groups, among them the Responsible Supervisor and Confidential Union of Employees and Ceneco Union of Rational Employees, have expressed opposition to the JVA.
“We strongly oppose this joint venture since we maintain it’s not only illegal, but detrimental to the interest of the consumers,” they said.
They are joined by Amlig Kuryente and Negros Consumers Watch, which have expressed their opposition in separate position papers. (PNA)