BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
The lowering of electricity rates and minimizing power outage are the top priorities of the newly-installed general manager of Central Negros Electric Cooperative.
Dan Pondevilla took over the position from Sulpicio Lagarde over the weekend on orders of the National Electrification Administration after the latter was removed by members of the Board of Ceneco last month.
In a message sent to the DAILY STAR, Pondevilla said he will study the power supply plan of Ceneco to bring down electricity rates and will look into the causes of systems loss to curb power interruptions.
As to the institutional aspects of Ceneco, Pondevilla said he will try to answer the clamors of the labor union, and to unify the workforce to ensure the delivery of efficient service to member-consumers.
He also assured transparency in the operations of the electric cooperative by allowing consumer groups to observe in all biddings to be conducted by Ceneco so that the public will be made aware of the contracts being entered into by the coop.
On Saturday, a 12-hour power outage hit some areas of Bacolod City because of maintenance activities conducted by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.
Pondevilla said he will meet with the management of NGCP this week to discuss its request that maintenance activities be conducted during non-office hours so as not to hamper business operations.
Meanwhile, Ceneco announced another power interruption, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, and will affect a portion of corner Araneta-Circumferential Road, Villa Lourdes Subd., including Munsterific, and Brgy. Pahanocoy in Bacolod.
Pondevilla said in the advisory that maintenance activities will be conducted to ensure reliability of distribution lines to avoid further serious damages that will result to major interruptions.
Aside from being the new manager of Ceneco, Pondevilla retained his position as manager of the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative. It is a huge responsibility to manage two major electric cooperatives in the province but Pondevilla stressed that he will try to perform his obligations to electric consumers from northern and central Negros Occidental.*
