Lawmaker to oppose Ceneco franchise renewal sans JVA

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano said Wednesday that he would oppose the franchise renewal of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) in Congress if it fails to form a joint venture with a financially capable private distribution utility (DU).

Paduano said that he would not allow consumers of Ceneco to continuously suffer for another 25 years of inefficient service and unreliable power supply.

“Manug expire na ang franchise sang Ceneco sa 2030. Dapat ang processing sa renewal sa franchise sa congress should start 2025. Prangkahon ta kamo naghambal na ko, I will oppose it. Indi ko pwede tunlon na. Gusto kita magpadayon nga mag suffer? For the past several years naman and even decade nga napamatud an naman na. Hopeless ang situation sang CENECO subong,” Paduano said.

He pointed out that Ceneco is bleeding and has no financial capability to improve its services in the coming years or before they apply for franchise renewal.

“Indi sila maka develop because ang application nila for CAPEX (capital expenditure) sa ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) gina-turndown. Second, hamakon mo diin ka makakita DU nga gina subsidized P20 million a month? How can you rehabilitate, how can you develop? How can you implement CAPEX kay naga subsidize gani P20 million?”, he added.

Paduano further said that if the consumers support and ratify the signed Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) of Ceneco and Primelectric Holdings Inc, he will even sponsor the franchise renewal in Congress.

“Whenever this JVA will push through through the majority votes of all Ceneco consumer-members, ako ya kung wala sang matindog, ako ya tindugan ko ni to sponsor the renewal of such franchise,” he added.

Paduano also cited the performance of Primelectric’s sister firm, MORE Power, in Iloilo city in the past three years.

“For the part three years, ginapakita sang MORE ang ila track record. Look at what happened in Iloilo. Nagnubo ang rate sa kuryente, maayo serbisyo, sige sila expand. Ang mga dapat to nga pang rehabilitate nga poles kag mga linya gin areglo nila. Subong ga refund pa sila ho”.

“It’s not all about MORE, it’s not about Ceneco, it’s all about sa mga konsumidor sa Bacolod City nga matagaan sang maayo nga serbisyo. So, it’s now or never,” Paduano said.

Meanwhile, groups opposing the JVA staged a protest rally in front of Ceneco on Thursday. They labeled the agreement as disadvantageous and unnecessary.