Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Friday, Oct. 17, that he will support the proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) between Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) and the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (NONECO).
NONECO General Manager Wilbe Bilbao confirmed on Monday, October 13, that NEPC has officially sent a letter of intent for a JVA with the cooperative.
“I’ve seen how Negros Power works here in Bacolod… it has the capital to introduce projects that will improve the delivery of power”, Lacson said.
“That has always been the problem of cooperatives, they need to get approval for CAPEX (capital expenditure) and in most cases it’s not approved or no action is taken,” he said.
The governor pointed out that Negros Power’s existing JVA with the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) has enabled it to move faster in addressing power needs in central Negros, suggesting a similar benefit for NONECO.
Rep. Julio Ledesma IV (Neg. Occ., 1st District) earlier said the proposed JVA “has been discussed. I’m for it but I reserve the right to review the process.”
NONECO’s franchise area covers nine local government units in Northern Negros Occidental.
They are the cities of Victorias, Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante and
San Carlos City, and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Manapla, Toboso and Calatrava.*