The president of Central Negros Electric Cooperative met Saturday with the heads of barangays covered by District 2 of Ceneco’s franchise area in Bacolod City, in preparation for the implementation of the Sitio Energization Program of President Aquino.

CENECO president Arnel Lapore said this is the first time he had gathered these barangay captains under his district area to solicit their concerns regarding areas that have not yet been energized.

“We are campaigning for the energization of sitios in line with the Sitio Energization Program of the President, which aims to bring electricity to the last household within the area, whether in the city or in the hinterlands,” he said.

The meeting was attended by Association of Barangay Captains president and Felisa Brgy. Captain Mona Dia Jardin, Brgy. Captains Elmo Olivar of Pahanocoy, Benjur Sombero - Sum-ag, Diogracias De la Vega – Alijis, Rufino Alcala- Punta-Taytay, Zonel Malayang – Cabug, Carlos Montano – Tangub and Kagawad Hernani Tornia of Cabug.

Lapore said the common areas under District 2, which have not yet been energized, are outskirt barangays and the expansion of growth is in the areas of Handumanan, Cabug, Sum-ag and even Felisa.

They believe that if there is growth or development in an area, this will need electrification like in the case of informal settlers being relocated to a relocation site, he said.

So they are now conducting a survey andsoliciting the concerns of the barangays so they could forward the matter to Malacanang through the National Electrification Administration, Lapore said. “We have limited time to do this and to forward the budget for the corresponding sitios and puroks that will be reached by our program,” he said.

Lapore said Ceneco will be the implementing arm of the Sitio Energization Program of the government so this is also an opportunity for them to bring electricity closer to the consumers, especially those who have not yet been energized.

He said this is also in line with Ceneco’s slogan “Giving Light, Creating Opportunities.”

Lapore said they expect to implement the government’s energization program before the year end. They have already started the program in the different districts from Bago to Silay, and those who have not yet been covered by the program will be included in the second batch.

Because of his desire to have all households energized, Lapore said he decided to dialog with the barangay captains who know the concerns in their areas and which barangays need electricity.

He said he will bring the suggestions he has solicited from the barangay captains to the Board and discuss it with the Ceneco management so they will be able to address their concerns.

Lapore said the barangay captains also suggested that Jardin bring up their concerns with the ABC, especially the tariffs being charged by professional electrical engineers who signs the permit needed to process their application for electrification with the Office of the Building Official, so that the fees will be reduced.

He will also review the tariffs of Ceneco so that the people can avail of electricity, Lapore said. He pointed out that Ceneco is bound by the tariffs prescribed by the ERC.

Lapore said they have 153,000 consumers within the Ceneco franchise area and only about 85 percent are energized. “We hope that by 2014 or sooner, we can have 100 percent of the households energized.*CGS

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