When the President and CEO Roel Castro of Negros Electric and Power Corp.(Negros Power) announced on July 19 that Negros Power, will grant a month long amnesty program to those with illegal connections, as soon as it starts its joint venture operations with CENECO on August 1 2024, nobody seems to understand its full social impact. The main drive is to make these power pilferers, numbering about 6,000 legal and regular consumers.
Power Watch Negros Secretary-General Wennie Sancho avers that the move of Negros Power is not merely a gesture of goodwill but to empower the powerless, with a manifestation of social justice. It is an act of compassion to reach out to, the poor and the needy and those who were neglected.
Majority, if not all of those involved in illegal connections belongs to the marginal sector of our community. They are the “little man” so-called, slumdwellers, own account workers and those who have less in life. Who are not only suffering from economic poverty but also from energy poverty, which refers to the lack of access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy services within their households.
The current energy poverty cannot be overlooked. Electricity is a means of empowering millions, to break free from the shackles of poverty and economic deprivation. Electrification for the poor is critical to keep equity and social justice in the heart of the power industry. The lack of access in electricity is recognized as one dimension of household poverty. Access to energy enlarge the peoples capabilities and enable them to realize their potentials.
The program of amnesty is commendable because it is consistent with the provision in Article 13 of the Philippine Constitution on Social Justice and Human Rights that, the end of social justice is to ensure the dignity, welfare and security of all people.
By powering lights and other equipments, electricity helps improve health care and education for poor people and makes it more likely that women will read and children will attend school regardless of their income level. Lack of electricity significantly contributes to household poverty, affecting overall well-being and hindering economic development. Efforts to improve energy access such as amnesty program to power pilferers by Negros Power is commendable and deserves the support of the consumers because it is intended to improve energy access for a better quality of life.
Former United Nations Secretary-General Kim Moon, famously referred to energy as “the golden thread connecting economic growth, social equity and environmental sustainability”. This is in recognition of how access to energy is critical for productive activity and positive health.
