BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer have voiced their support last week for the proposed joint venture (JV) of Ignite Power, sister firm of MORE Power Corporation, with local distribution utility Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) as the process whether to accept or reject the unsolicited offer of the Razon-owned firm continues.
Also this week, the Utilities Consumers Advocate for Reforms (UCARE) led by Rodolfo Song also voiced its support for the JV provided it be “coupled with” the registration of CENECO under the Cooperative Development Authority.
UCARE became the second group to back the offer of the firm that is now the private distribution utility in Iloilo City, the center of Western Visayas region.
“Yes,” Ferrer said when asked by reporters if he will back the offer of Ignite that labor advocate Wennie Sancho had described as a shot in the arm for the ailing cooperative, described by its acting general manager as financially bleeding.
“It must be given a chance,” Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said, in the other hand, after he, Ferer, and other Capitol officials attended a briefing by MORE President and Chief Executive Officer Roel Castro.
Aside from this highly-urbanized city, CENECO’s franchise area covers two cities – Talisay and Silay – and two towns – Murcia ad Don Salvador Benedicto – that are all comoonent local governments of the provincial government.
Sancho, convenor of the Power Watch Negros Advocate, had also led the signing of a resolution by at least 20 labor leaders here who are backing the JV.
Today, 15 May 2023, the main group opposing the JV will also hold a meeting to discuss moves against the proposal.
“It seems they will railroad it,” former Bacolod Councilor Wilson “Jun” Gamboa Jr told DNX as he pointed out that CENECO officials backing the JV plan to call for a special general assembly on 27 May to decide on the proposal.
