Twenty leaders of labor groups under the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) signed a resolution in support of a Central Negros Electric Cooperative and MORE Power Corporation joint venture agreement (JVA) at a Labor Day forum at the Negros Press Club in Bacolod City on Monday morning, May 1.
Militant labor groups, under the United Labor Alliance – Negros, on the other hand, slammed the JVA at their rally in front of the Bacolod City Government Center replica at the Bacolod plaza Monday afternoon.
ULAN protestors said the JVA will lead to the privatization of CENECO at the expense of its consumers and the employees who are likely to lose their jobs.
Wennie Sancho, GAWA secretary general, said 20 labor group leaders signed the resolution in support of a JVA and six more will do the same on Tuesday.
The GAWA resolution said CENECO consumers for decades have been suffering from all forms of inconveniences because the cooperative failed to rehabilitate and overhaul its facilities resulting to huge system losses at the expense of its consumers.
The proposed JVA between CENECO and MORE Power Corporation would serve as the lifesaving mechanism that will improve and level up the operations of CENECO to serve and advance the welfare of the consumers, it said.
GAWA has high expectations that the JVA will enable CENECO to deliver a more reliable efficient and stable power supply in its coverage area, that is the foundation for economic development, the resolution added.
”A robust power supply will attract more investors which in turn will create job opportunities and income that will pump prime the economy and strengthen the purchasing power of the workers,” the resolution said.*