CENECO please explain

Yesterday morning, we had three short power outages without warning. Days before that, there were also frequent outages, thankfully just minutes, but something that will surely ruin our appliances and other electronic gadgets.

Last year, we paid a hefty sum to have our refrigerator fixed after its motor has been affected by frequent outage. This time, when an outage happens, we immediately unplug the ref until power is restored. Yesterday, we had to do it three times until my daughter decided to wait until noon time when power is more stable before plugging it back in.

I don’t know what explanation Ceneco has about the matter but this has been happening frequently and sometimes in the middle of the night when you just find yourself plunged in darkness. The only saving grace is the good weather that even if there is an outage, there is breeze to cool us. But woe when summer comes and this situation remains the same.

What is more worrisome is if these outages will cause residential fire particularly if occupants leave appliances plugged all day when they are at work. Last Monday ten fires hit the city, most of it grass fire but two in residential areas. I hope none of the two was caused by faulty electrical wirings.

Ceneco should explain what is causing these sporadic outages. If it’s because we lack power supply then shouldn’t they look elsewhere and secure enough supply rather than wait for whenever Energreen can supply us with power? They promised come end of April they can deliver, unless of course they can find another reason for their failure to do so.

Ceneco president, Arnel Lapore should come out with an explanation as to these outages and should also explain clearly to the public why he is in favor of rescinding the contract with Energreen, based on his understanding of the technical and legal findings.

And again, we call on the six board members who have been favoring the Energreen contract to also explain to the consumers why Energreen seems a sweet deal for them despite questions raised against the company.

It is ironic that Ceneco allows an extension of four months to Energreen but would only give their consumers a maximum of two months of unpaid bills before they disconnect.

Meanwhile, DAR made a mistake in releasing a copy to the media of so-called opposition to the CARP extension naming all congressmen in Negros minus Rep. Bing Leonardia and Rep. Mercedes Alvarez from the 6th district.

I think DAR came up with that list during their strategic planning, mapping out their allies and those who will resist the nth extension of CARP. For sure they will name all Negros representatives since they know that these are the very representatives of the people who saw and experience the failure of CARP.

It has been impressed upon DAR many times and for so long now that CARP should not simply be focused on distribution of land but should couple it with support services and technical training. But no, DAR has always measured their accomplishment on how many lands they have distributed.

The problem with DAR is in their desperation to have the CARP extended, they probably leaked the list to the media and to allied groups who then will lambast these representatives in their behalf. Definitely they cannot slam elected officials themselves as a government agency and more so, because they need these solons to ensure their department does not get dissolve anytime soon.

Congressmen Albee Benitez and Jeffrey Ferrer are right, DAR should show proof that their program has actually been successful for why should Congress pass again a failing program.

This is where President Benigno Aquino’s statement should apply instead of directed to SAF ex-director Getulio Napenas. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

I am more interested in what Rep. Jules Ledesma is doing though and perhaps something that DAR should look into if indeed what he is planning will become successful. Jules said he is working on a program that will make CARP beneficiaries in his district wealthy. Perhaps he can share that plan with us and let’s see if it’s adaptable in other districts as well.*

back to top