Whom will NEPC ‘bless’?

By Herbert Vego

IT is not surprising that the employees of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) are worried over the possibility of losing their jobs. This is because of its impending transformation into Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) through a plebiscite-approved joint venture agreement. Under that agreement, Ceneco employees would be accorded hiring preference.

The franchise bill (HB 9805) granting NEPC the authority to replace Ceneco though a 25-year franchise has passed the Lower House and is now in the Senate for concurrence.

NEPC being an affiliate of MORE Power of Iloilo City, we expect the latter’s president/CEO, Roel Z. Castro, to also spearhead the new distribution utility.

As reported by our editor, Francis Allan L. Angelo, “over 250 Ceneco employees had already applied, and are presently in the recruitment phase.”

When I asked Castro about it, he said that “qualification” and “efficiency” would be primordial in deciding whom to retain “to ensure a smooth transition.” Thus, thorough screening is going on.

I have no reason to disagree because I know how MORE Power did it upon succeeding Panay Electric Company (PECO) as power distributor in Iloilo City in 2020. More than 50 technical employees of PECO got the MORE nod.

I guess NEPC would rehire more than that number because of its heavier customer base.  While MORE Power has 69,000 customers today, NEPC would attend to 177,700-plus in Bacolod and neighboring cities and towns.

My octogenarian friend in Bacolod City, Casiano Mayor, is happy. Kasi, may isa nang taga NEPC na kumain sa kanyang Marilyn’s Kitchen on Gatuslao Ext. cor. 13^th St.

-oOo-

DODOD-LOREN ‘WAR’ CONFUSING

MY previous column on “realignment of forces” among splintered allies of Senator Loren Legarda and Antique Governor Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao has earned mixed reactions from Antiqueños. It was about the certainty kuno of erstwhile teammates Dodod and Agapito “AA” Legarda clawing each other for the lone House seat in 2025.

In that column, I relayed what I had heard – that the Dodod-Loren split is slowly taking its toll on their downlines, including Vice Governor Edgar Denosta and former Valderrama mayor Ray Rquero, respectively.

Maritess says that Denosta would no longer be Cadiao’s bet for governor because he has been junked in favor of former Pandan mayor Jonathan Tan; and that the Legardas’ Roquero would have to give way to Paolo Javier.

Some people close to Sen. Loren, however, disagree, swearing that she would not like Paolo to team up with AA.

Some of Cadiao’s friends, on the other hand, believe that Dodod would resist any strong pressure to drop Denosta like a hot potato.

Some others insist, however, that it was Dodod herself who personally asked Tan to bump Denosta off.  Ano nga ba talaga, Kuya?

An SP (whatever that means) differs, saying that Tan is a niño bonito of President BBM. But, alas, if that were so, why did BBM kick him out as administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)?

Irony of ironies, si Paolo naman daw ang niño bonito of the President’s better half, the First Lady. Ay, karadlawan.

Aber, Dodod and AA, ano gid bala?

-oOo-

THE CHINESE CONNECTION

THE biggest manufacturers of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) in the Philippines are Ethnic Chinese with political connections, according to the US Department of State in its updated International Narcotics Strategy Report.

Since we have no actual copy of the report, we can only read between the lines of TV newscasts.  For example, it has been reported that suspicious characters were using expelled congressman Arnie Teves’ private ship to make shabu while in the high seas.

Meanwhile, the small Pinoy pushers get caught everyday.