BAYAN Negros strongly denounces the management and board of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) for their sudden decision to sign a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Primelectric Holdings Inc., completely disregarding the concerns of consumers.
The announcement of this signing on Saturday, June 3, was only made public by mainstream media close to midnight Friday, June 2, leaving consumers completely blindsided.
Noli Rosales, spokesperson for Bayan Negros, strongly condemned this undemocratic maneuver, stating, "Like thieves in the night, the board of directors and management of Ceneco have blindsided and betrayed the consumers with their devious schemes. Shame to them for blatantly neglecting the interests of the people they are supposed to serve."
Bayan Negros warned against the rushed and non-inclusive plebiscite scheduled for June 24 and 25, and July 1 and 2. This plebiscite appears to be a mere formality, lacking genuine consultation and meaningful dialogue, he said.
"Supporting this partnership without weighing the long-term implications is deeply concerning. We implore these barangay officials to reflect on the wider ramifications and prioritize the collective interests of the community over immediate and personal gains," Rosales said.
Bayan Negros asserted that when essential services like electricity are placed in the hands of profit-seeking entities, the interests of the people are often sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed.
“Consumers face the risk of skyrocketing electricity prices, reduced accountability, and compromised quality of service. This is a perennial problem in the Philippines as we lack national industries, and thus prone to the incursions of local and foreign profit-interests on basic services and utilities,” the group said.
Bayan Negros urged the Ceneco board of directors and management to stop their devious schemes and truly engage in genuine and inclusive dialogue with the consumers.
“The fight is not yet over. The voice of the consumers is decisive. Through collective action, we can still hold the management and board of directors accountable for being traitorous to the interests of the consumers. Now is the time for the thousands of member-consumers to unite and fight back,” Rosales stressed. (PR)