Opposition to power rate hike snowballs
Newks, others to attend March 19 hearing in Cebu
BACOLOD CITY -- Opposition to the impending increase of P1.14 per kilowatt hour by the National Power Corporation (NPC) has snowballed as multi-sectoral groups, concerned citizens and some government leaders in Bacolod City and Province of Negros Occidental take their vigilance against this untimely imposition of the power rate increase.
Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Monico O. Puentevella, who sits as the House Vice Chairman of the Committee on Energy, said he will have this matter be reviewed under the Energy Committee because he considered the rate increase as very untimely.
He said that he might attend the hearing on March 19, 2009 in Cebu City. The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental will also send a representative to attend the hearing. The Bacolod City Government will also send its representative.
The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) will also send its representative to the hearing which will be held in Cebu City.
This came after as Central Negros Cooperative (Ceneco) announced last week the increase which will become effective on the April 2009 bill of the power consumers.
Atty. Vicente Sabornay, Ceneco President earlier said that Ceneco has nothing to do with this increase. He said they are just a mere collector of this increase as imposed by NPC.
However, this matter ran against the throat of concerned power consumers considering the lack of enough consultation and its abrupt implementation.
Puentevella asked the NPC and Energy Regulatory Council (ERC) to move its implementation considering the economic situation now.
Gov. Isidro Zayco and the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) were opposing the proposed power rate increase because it would be passed on to the consumers.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan through Vice Gov. Emilio Yulo passed an SP resolution which expressed the provincial government’s opposition to the power rate increase.
Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia also said he would resist the power rate increase.