Groups in favor of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative and Primelectric Holdings Inc. (PHI) joint venture agreement (JVA) called for a peaceful plebiscite to ensure that the collective decision of the CENECO member-consumers will be heard, during a press conference at the Negros Press Club in Bacolod City on Wednesday, June 14.
Wennie Sancho, Power Watch secretary-general, told DIGICAST NEGROS that despite their differences with other groups on the move to privatize CENECO, a peaceful and orderly plebiscite must be adhered to.
Leaders of Power Watch Negros, Pro-JVA Multisectoral Group, Utilities Consumer Advocates for Reform, among others at the NPC to air their support for the JVA and call for a peaceful plebiscite.
The plebiscite is set on June 24 to 25, and July 1 to 2, Sancho said.
“We are asking that we should respect each other’s opinions and not take it to a personal level. We all have the freedom of choice and it is a free market of opinions,” he said.
He reiterated that their group gives a “resounding yes” to the JVA as it is the only mechanism to address the problem of CENECO, particularly in the rehabilitation of infrastructure like transformers, substations, and power lines.
Earlier anti-JVA groups declared Sancho persona non grata in Negros Occidental workplaces for his support for the CENECO-PHI joint venture.
Sancho said that they do not have the authority to declare him persona non grata in all workplaces and it is something not to be taken seriously.
“If they declare me persona non grata for my support for the JVA, they might as well declare other officials who aired their support for it, too,” Sancho added.
Sancho said they are focused on educating people on the content of the JVA and the opposing party must read the JVA for clarifications.*