Pagpapatupad ng JVA ng Primelectric at CENECO sa Negros tinatalakay na ng NEA

Malapit na ang pagbuti ng electric power supply sa lalawigan ng Negros kasunud ng ginagawa nang pagtalakay ng National Electrification Administration (NEA) sa nabuong joint venture agreement (JVA) sa pagitan ng Primelectric Holdings Inc at Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CENECO). Ayon kay NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda dahil natapos na ang plebisito na pumabor sa JVA ay ang pagpapatupad nito ang siya nang gagawin ng NEA. Batay sa kasunduan ay 8 buwan ang target bago ito masimulan. “I hope we can address the concerns of the oppositors. We must also consider them. Regarding the participation of the Member-Consumer-Owners, it has been concluded during the plebiscite so we will put this into motion with all the required legal objectivity,”pahayag ni Almeda sa naging pulong sa pagitan ng mga opisyal ng Ceneco at Primelectric. Noong Setyembre 12 ay inanunsyo ng NEA na 98,591 member consumers ang pumabor para sa JVA kontra sa 6,899 na hindi pabor. Ang Primelectric ay sister company ng More Electric and Power Corporation(More Power) na power distribution utlity sa Iloilo City. Sa oras na makumpleto ang JVA, ang Ceneco-Primelectric merger company ay tatawagin nang Negros Electric Power Corp. (NEPC). Sa naging pulong sa NEA ay iniharap ni Primelectric President Roel Castro ang kumpletong detalye ukol sa JVA gayundin kung paano ito ipatutupad at ang target na  modernisasyon sa mga pasilidad. “This venture seeks to magnify the electric industry in Central Negros by not just streamlining the internal and external operations of concerned parties but also rehabilitating and modernizing the distribution system, which is deemed crucial in providing quality service to our consumers,” paliwanag ni Castro. Sa panig ng CENECO, sinabi ni acting general manager Atty. Arnel Lapore na umaasa syang agad mapasisimulan ng NEA ang JVA. “I’m one with NEA in facilitating the service for the benefit of our consumers. That’s why I strongly support and cooperate through this JVA to ensure we deliver quality operations internally and externally. Rest assured that we duly consider all the suggestions raised by Admin Almeda during the hearing,” pahayag ni Lapore. Target ng Primelectric na maglaan ng P2.1 billion investment na nakatuon sa pagmomodernisa ng power distribution system. “We need to rehabilitate the system because if you don’t put in the additional P2 billion investment or even bigger, you will be inheriting a distribution system that is just the same as now that is inefficient. That’s why we have to put the investment  to start rehabilitating and improving the system,” ani Castro. Sinabi ni Castro na sa oras na maayos ang distribution system ay kasunud na din masosolusyunan ang mataas na singil sa systems losses na syang pinapasan ng mga consumers. “The P2.1 billion will result in reduced system losses and much better reliability but will not lead to any immediate increase in the Distribution System and Metering  rates for the consumers once  operates,” dagdag pa nito. Nangako si Castro na pagsapit ng 2028 ay makakamit nila ang 100 % target na  total electricifation sa Negros. “On behalf of NEPC, we have our commitment to continue, and we will achieve the 100 percent target in alignment with the government’s direction. It will now be fully funded by NEPC, and thus, we are shifting the burden of electrification from the government to the private sector,” paliwanag pa ni Castro. Upang maisakatuparan ang target programs ay tiniyak ng NEPC ang kanilang kooperasyon sa NEA. “We will ensure that Primelectric/NEPC will collaborate with NEA and CENECO because we have the same mission to bring light to the progression of the Filipino people and make their lives even more comfortable,” pagtatapos pa ni Castro.