Bacolod City – Power Watch Secretary-General Wennie Sancho accused those protesting against the proposed Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between Central Negros Electric Cooperative and MORE Electric and Power Corporation, for sowing confusion, as he called on them to provide documents to back up their allegations.
Sancho’s reaction was in response to the protest action staged by the Negros Consumers Watch and Responsible Supervisory and Confidential Union of Employees (Rescue) of Ceneco, who aired strong opposition against JVA.
He dismissed the protest action as “premature,” stressing the terms of reference (TOR) of the proposed JVA has not been established yet.
MORE Electric Power Corp. executives are set to meet with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and members of the Bacolod City Council next week, to present plans on the proposed JVA with Ceneco.
JVA oppositors have claimed that power rates could possibly increase if MORE Power takes over Ceneco.
While he respects their rights to air their grievances, Sancho, however questioned their basis, as he urged them to read first the JVA, if there is any, as of this time.
He added that Rescue union leaders may have been apprehensive and feeling insecure about their future, since they are presently enjoying exorbitant pay and allowances.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, who appeared to be supportive on the JVA, noted that electricity rates went down in Iloilo, when MORE Power took over the power distribution facility – Panay Electric Company (PECO) – in Iloilo.
Benitez said he is inviting the public to attend the presentation of MORE Power, to scrutinize its track records.
“If the power rate is low, and there is stable supply, then we will support whoever runs our distribution system,” the mayor said. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)