A MEMORANDUM of agreement (MOA) was entered into by the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power) and the City Government of Silay to provide safe, legal, and reliable electricity to over 5,000 informal settler households in the city on April 4, 2025.
Roel Castro, president and chief executive officer of Negros Power; Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego; members of the City Council; and other officials of Negros Power led the signing of the accord.
The agreement aims to address the urgent need to replace hazardous, illegal connections with legitimate, metered electricity in underserved communities.
Under Republic Act 12011, Negros Power has been granted the franchise to operate the electric distribution system, including Silay City.
With this authority, Castro said the company is now tasked to ensure equitable and non-discriminatory access to electricity, especially for informal settler, defined as those living on land they do not legally own but occupy with tolerance from public or private entities.
“This agreement is about more than just powering homes,” he said.
He added that it is about enabling dreams, improving safety, and unlocking economic and educational opportunities for thousands of families.
Castro noted that the key provisions of the MOA include that Negros Power is responsible in identifying qualified informal settlers, submitting a validated list to the local government unit through the City Engineer’s Office or Office of the Building Official, among others.
Castro said the City Government of Silay is also expected to assist in the issuance and validation of required documents, facilitate the processing of barangay certificates of residency, and temporary electrical permits, among others.
He said the mayor may also issue an executive order to streamline the process for issuing Temporary Electrical Permits.
He said Silay City, a third-class component city with 16 barangays, has long faced challenges related to fire hazards and community safety due to illegal and unsafe power connections.
Through this collaboration, Castro said informal settlers will be formally integrated into the energy grid, allowing them to access government programs linked to legal utility connections and residency documentation.
"This joint initiative marks a sustained commitment from both Negros Power and the Silay City Government to promote energy safety, equitable service, and inclusive growth across the city," he said.
For his part, Gallego said the MOA signing is a testament to their shared goal of building a more secure, dignified, and sustainable future for all Silaynons.
“Legal electrification is a basic right and a vital foundation for further development in these communities,” he said.
He said the MOA states that it will not reduce or remove any existing rights or benefits provided to informal settlers under other applicable laws. (MAP)