Bacolod City – Three Negros bishops encouraged member-consumers of Central Negros Electric Cooperative to voice out their opinion in the ongoing plebiscite for the Joint Venture Agreement proposal between CENECO and Negros Electric Power Corporation (NEPC).
This developed as the partial plebiscite results showed that 67,562, or 91 percent, voted yes to the JVA on June 24 and 25, and August 19 and 20.
According to the figures released by the CENECO JVA Over-All Plebiscite Committee, those who voted no numbered 6,601.
The total turnout in four days of plebiscite was recorded at 74,163. CENECO has 177,737 eligible voters.
A joint pastoral statement issued by Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon, San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, and Kabankalan Bishop Louie Galvinez urged consumers “to study the terms of JVA in careful details and make reasoned judgments on their impact and consequences,” guided by the spirit of cooperativism which has guided CENECO since its founding.
Make your opinions count by registering your vote in the scheduled plebiscites, the bishops called on CENECO consumers.
Four more plebiscite dates are scheduled on August 26 and 27, as well as September 2 and 3.
The three bishops also urged CENECO members to be vigilant and proactive in ensuring that the plebiscite is done in an honest, fair, and peaceful manner.
They also called on the NEPC and CENECO management, and other stakeholders, to observe transparency and accountability in the process of defining the terms of the JVA.
Citing the social doctrine of Catholic Church, the Bishops reminded everyone that “all business ventures must be mindful of the common good, putting the service of mankind above personal interests.”
It also encouraged the CENECO and consumers to seek government support and work for truly mutually beneficial terms with NEPC or whoever the cooperative will partner with.
Furthermore, the Bishops also challenged the CENECO to be truly an authentic cooperative after admitting its inutility to provide reliable and cheaper electricity to its constituents.
The CENECO management earlier admitted that it is deeply indebted to government and private banks, lack the capex to maintain standard and reliable facilities, and is forced to charged higher fees for its electricity per kilowatt-hour and services.
Some known figures in the local business sector who requested not to be identified have lauded the bishops’ statement calling for a win-win position that will benefit all. (Gilbert Bayoran via TVDS photo by TDG)
