Central Negros Electric Cooperative and Primelectric Holdings Inc., an affiliate of MORE Power Iloilo, plan to form a joint venture that will benefit consumers in the Visayas.
Primeelectric president and chief executive Roel Castro said they were planning to hold a referendum for the JVA this year.
“The requirement in the NEA [National Electrification Administration] guidelines is a majority vote of 50 percent plus one from members in good standing,” he said.
He said Primelectric is committed to making substantial investments in rehabilitating and modernizing the electric power distribution system within Primelectric Holdings Inc.,’s franchise area, with the goal of improving power supply and distribution services for consumers.
CENECO serves over 200,000 consumers.
Primelectric is supposed to present the proposed JVA before Bacolod City officials on June 5, further advancing their commitment to a more efficient and reliable electricity landscape.
Meanwhile, consumers and barangay officials expressed support for the proposed partnership between CENECO and Primelectric.
Representatives of barangays from Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Bago and the municipalities of Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental gathered at the West Negros University gymnasium on May 28 to learn about the features of the JVA and its potential benefits for consumers in the electric cooperative’s franchise area.
The proposed JVA also received strong support from Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who emphasized the backing of themayors from Bacolod, Silay, Talisay, Bago, Murcia and Don Salvador Benedicto.
The barangay leaders expressed willingness to help educate their constituents about the advantages and benefits of the JVA. Ferrer said consumers endured enough of the widespread power interruptions.
“All stakeholders concur that CENECO’s efficiency is lacking. Providing quality service and promptly addressing power-related issues are of utmost importance to them,” he said.