Thursday, January 08, 2009 Generator eyed to power up gov’t center By Merlind A. Pedrosa
MAYOR Evelio Leonardia is eyeing the use of generator if Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) will continue its policy preventing Bacolod City from securing regular power connection with the power coop.
The decision was made after Ceneco required the city to submit the land title for the New Government Center (NGC) to get power connections.
Leonardia said part of the package of the NGC is a generator which could light up the whole building albeit more expensive on the part of the city.
“If that happens and the city spends more because of the Ceneco policy, the payment will be shouldered by the people since the city will pay the cost of electricity using taxpayers’ money,” the mayor said.
Leonardia said the issue of requiring the land title is purely politics since there are many squatters who have no land titles but were given power connections by Ceneco.
“The NGC was singled out. It is clearly in line with that grand scheme to see to it that we will not be able to use the NGC. We believe Ceneco will not intervene in politics if there’s no politician behind it. They are being used by a politician who doesn’t want the NGC to open,” he said.
Earlier, Ceneco president Vicente Sabornay denied that politics is involved in the planned electrification of the NGC. “I am just doing it right as prescribed by law; there’s no politics.”
Leonardia said the land title got lost at the Registry of Deeds and it is not the fault of the Gonzaga family (who donated the lot where the NGC stands) or the city if there is no title.
City Legal officer Allan Zamora said one option for the city is to file a mandatory injunction if Ceneco still refuses to provide power.
Meanwhile, City Administrator Roger Balo said the city will settle its P13 million bills with Ceneco within this week.
Leonardia said in accordance with the court ruling, the current account is being processed.
He added the city still does not see the urgency for them to lay down their cards.
