THE City Government of Bacolod has allocated an P84-million budget for its electricity bills this year.
City Administrator John Orola said on Wednesday said that P7 million a month has been set aside for payments to the Central Negros Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ceneco).
Orola met with Ceneco general manager Suplicio Lagarde Jr. to address the outstanding electricity bills of Bacolod.
Orola said Bacolod has a cumulative outstanding electricity bill amounting to P297,012,877.03, covering years 2009 to 2016.
“Ceneco is requesting for payments and the City Government allocated P7 million a month to pay the city’s current bills,” he said.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia had earlier said that in electricity alone, the city is spending about P6 million a month.
Orola said majority of the city’s accounts, including the barangay street lights, reached P3 million for the month of November 2016 alone.
To reduce the city’s electricity bills, Orola said they will implement safety measures to address the rampant pilferage especially in public markets.
He said that Burgos Market is averaging P100,000 in monthly electricity bill while Libertad Market and Central Markets are averaging only P50,000 a month.
The City Government and Ceneco has formed an inspection team for the rewiring of Burgos Market connections, which will cost P3 million.
After the rewiring, the market vendors will be required to secure an individual meter to avoid illegal connections.
Orola said they are awaiting the inventory report of Ceneco for the imposition of real property taxes on its electrical poles.
“Ceneco will pay its taxes and the City Government is also willing to pay its bills,” he added.