In the wake recent spate of power outages hitting Bacolod City, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez recently said that he will appeal to Senator Grace Poe to fast track the passage of franchise being sought by the Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC), to pave the way for the massive rehabilitation of the power distribution facilities of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO).
“The frequent power outages in the CENECO franchise area is caused by the outdated equipment that needs to be replaced and affected by the intensifying summer heat,” Benitez said.
The bill, which seeks the granting of a franchise to NEPC, is still pending at the Senate committee on Public Services, chaired by Senator Grace Poe, following its approval in the House of Representatives.
NEPC has committed to spend about P4 billion in investments to rehabilitate and modernize the CENECO distribution facilities in areas of Silay City, Talisay City, Bacolod City, Bago City, Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto
House Bill No. 9805 that seeks the NEPC franchise is a measure borne out of public clamor for better power service in Negros Occidental.
During the start of the hearing of the bill, Poe said she has seen the performance of More Power in Iloilo City that has brought tremendous development to Iloilo, which she hopes to be replicated in Bacolod City.
NEPC president Roel Castro earlier said that they are committed, not only to rehabilitate and modernize the distribution system, aimed at providing better power service to Negrenses, but also bring down power rates. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star)