I am often tempted to compare two private companies, both operating on joint venture arrangements in Bacolod City in the distribution utilities sector, as to how they have complied with the terms of the pacts they have signed and if they have, as promised, improved services in their sector.
First is the Primewater Construction Corporation owned by the family of billionaire politician Manuel ‘Manny’ Villar and the other is Negros Electric and Power Corporation helmed by MORE Power owned by another billionaire, Enrique Razon Jr.
As I am writing this article on a Friday night the lights just went out past 8pm. Power was restored around 9:30pm. Wire down on a nearby street here in Eroreco Subdivision.
“Wire down” used to be a horrifying phrase when distribution was still under the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, at least in my humble experience.
Then, it meant hours of sweaty nights, being feasted upon by mosquitoes and cursing CENECO to eternal damnation.
Now, however, it only took around an hour for power to return, thanks to hardworking and dedicated linemen of Negros Power who risk life and limb to translate a corporate commitment to improved services.
That is something I appreciate.
While it is easy to argue the obvious: that Negros Power is a for-profit venture that we pay for their services, it is also easy to miss the point that it has improved on power distribution services and continues to do so.
In short, it is fulfilling what it has committed to do in its joint venture arrangement that includes sinking in P2 billion to improve the delivery infrastructure of CENECO.
It is, therefore, a good indicator if Negros Power has scheduled interruptions, what we commonly know as brownouts or blackouts, as these mean that the promised investment is pouring in and Negros Power is putting its money where its mouth is.
As old wise folk used to put it: wala ginsulat sa tubig (not just a promise).
I am not, of course, referring to Baciwa’s moribund service (not sarcastically), in any way even as the taps (as it is every day in Eroreco) are running dry in the city where people find it hard to cook lunch or dinner in the city where water is made available either late at night or in the early morning.
Perhaps BACIWA’s water service is meant only for those who work at night or in the early mornings or perhaps (gasp!) it is run by the Vampire Lestat.
