NEPC bill passes third reading in the House

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) seems set to secure its franchise for electricity distribution in Central Negros following recent legislative developments.

The House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 9805 on third reading last Wednesday.

The bill is designed to grant NEPC a franchise to establish, operate, and maintain a distribution system for commercial purposes in the public interest.

The system will convey electric power to end-users in the cities of Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, and Bago, as well as in the Municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto, all in the Province of Negros Occidental. The bill emphasizes ensuring a continuous and uninterrupted supply of electricity in the franchise area.

The third-reading approval comes just a week after the bill surpassed the second reading, signaling that it is now just a few steps away from becoming law.

This advancement requires the passage of a corresponding bill in the Senate and the eventual endorsement by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

NEPC emerged from a joint venture agreement between Central Negros Electric Cooperative and Primelectric Holdings Inc, owned by businessman Enrique Razon. It also stands as a sister company to MORE Electric and Power Corp., the exclusive power distributor in Iloilo City.

Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Paduano, the primary author of the bill, had earlier forecasted that NEPC would secure its franchise by April 2024.

Regarding the Senate version of the bill, Paduano mentioned his intention to collaborate with Senator Grace Poe, who heads the committee on public services that oversees power distributors, to sponsor the counterpart bill.

The joint venture agreement stipulates that Ceneco will retain a 30 percent stake in NEPC, and all its debts and financial liabilities will be resolved through the agreement.

Further, the agreement ensures that Ceneco employees will be looked after, with their retirement and separation benefits being honored as per the Collective Bargaining Agreements. They will also be given priority should they choose to seek employment with NEPC.