Primelectric Holdings Inc. and Negros Electric and Power Corp. will abide by the decision of the National Electrification (NEA) to suspend the holding of the plebiscite on their joint venture agreement (JVA) with Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO).
“We will abide by the recent decision of the NEA and CENECO, as requested by the mayors, regarding the purification of the voter’s list,” PHI and NEPC president and chief executive officer Roel Z. Castro said Thursday, July 6.
“We support this step towards ensuring a more reliable and trustworthy outcome for the plebiscite. This cleansing process will undoubtedly contribute to a more credible result that reflects the will of CENECO’s member-consumers,” he said.
The NEA has directed CENECO to suspend the plebiscite on the JVA for a period not exceeding 60 days while it verifies its list of voters.
The plebiscite is being held for CENECO member-consumer-owners to vote for the approval or denial of the JVA.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez on Monday said he and the mayors of the five other areas within the franchise coverage of CENECO were seeking a temporary suspension of the plebiscite that was set July 8 and 9 so NEA could verify its list of voters.
CENECO acting general manager Arnel Lapore said he expects the NEA cleansing of the voters list to be completed in a month or less.
After which NEA will set the dates for the plebiscite, he said.
Meanwhile, CENECO will continue its campaign for member consumers to participate in the plebiscite, Lapore said.
This is beneficial to anti and pro JVA groups as it will give them time to campaign, he added.
Lapore called on CENECO employees to maintain industrial peace.
“Their grievances can be addressed peacefully without resorting to a strike,” he said.
CENECO’s operations cannot be disrupted because it involves public interest, Lapore said.
Meanwhile, notices to explain have been issued to two CENECO employees for suspected connivance with persons claiming to be the new CENECO board members who entered the cooperative premises earlier, Lapore said.*