By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The transition period for the soon-to-be Negros Electric Power Corporation (NEPC) will only take a few months, according to Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) general manager Atty. Arnel Lapore.
The NEPC will be formed following the successful plebiscite of a joint venture agreement (JVA) between Ceneco and Primelectric Holdings Inc.
In a radio interview over the weekend, Lapore said the National Electrification Administration (NEA) will recommend to the House of Representatives to give NEPC a 25-year franchise.
The process could take at least eight to 10 months.
During the period, Lapore said Ceneco’s operation in reducing system losses will continue until the franchise is transferred.
Lapore also assured Ceneco employees, who may be worried about losing their jobs, that they will be prioritized for rehiring under the new electric company.
Earlier, Ceneco announced that there would be no more plebiscites to be conducted after “yes” votes have already reached the threshold that will ratify the JVA.
NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said they agreed with Ceneco’s request that the votes that will be garnered during the plebiscite’s remaining days, supposedly from September 2 to 3, would no longer materially affect the result.
It is now mathematically impossible to overturn the affirmative majority vote cast by the total eligible voters, he added.
“Accordingly, this office resolves that the termination of the plebiscite voting period is warranted under the circumstances stated, and that Ceneco is directed to proceed with the final canvassing of the consolidated returns in accordance with the guidelines,” Almeda said.
Ceneco conducted the plebiscite on June 24 and 25, August 19, 20, 26, and 27, where a majority of the cooperative’s member-consumer-owners voted “yes” for the JVA.
Lapore said the Overall Plebiscite Committee’s partial official canvass showed a total of 105,540 votes had been cast, which garnered 98,591 “yes” votes and 6,899 “no” votes.
Ceneco has a total of 178,236 eligible voters for the JVA, from franchise areas in Negros Occidental cities of Bago, Talisay and Silay, the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto, and capital Bacolod City.
The plebiscite emanated from the JVA signed by Ceneco and proponent Primelectric was purposely to improve the services of the electric distribution in its franchise area, which needs ratification of the majority of the member-consumers./DGB, WDJ