By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga 

MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) presented the details of the proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) to former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela at the Provincial Capitol yesterday morning.

Roel Castro, MORE Power president and chief executive officer, said Coscolluela, the current energy and environment consultant for the provincial government, is open-minded about their JVA with the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco).

Castro said what is good with presenting the JVA to Coscolluela is that there is open communication with the former governor after MORE Power, the sole power distributor in Iloilo City, was able to clarify some concerns in the JVA, including their plans to address system losses.

He added that the consultant wanted clarification as they desired to hear from him personally.

At the moment, Castro said Coscolluela is not saying yes — but he is not saying no either — to the JVA, adding that he wants some questions to be addressed first.

Meanwhile, Atty. Arnel Lapore, Ceneco general manager, said they have not received updates yet from the National Electrification Administration regarding the resumption of the plebiscite for the ratification of the JVA.

Earlier this month, the plebiscite was ordered suspended for the cleansing of the voters’ masterlist.

The JVA seeks to improve power distribution services in Ceneco’s franchise areas in capital Bacolod City, and Negros Occidental cities of Bago, Talisay and Silay, and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto./DGB, WDJ