The Philippine Senate has officially approved the bill granting a franchise to the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC) to operate as a new distribution utility in Central Negros through a Joint Venture Agreement with the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO).
During the plenary session, the NEPC franchise House Bill number 9805 got 22 affirmative votes from the Senators today, May 20, 2024.
After the approval, Committee Chairperson on Public Services Senator Grace Poe thanked her colleagues for supporting the said bill and underscored that this legislative measure aims to enhance consumer services by providing them with continued access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, “It is my hope that the granting of the franchise would pave the way for better and more expansive power service in the country.
“House Bill No. 9805 is a result of the public’s clamor for better service in Central Negros Occidental, which CENECO currently serves. NEPC has expressed its readiness and willingness to invest capital in modernizing the distribution system and addressing operational challenges,” Senator Poe stated in the previous deliberations.
She commended the initiative of both CENECO and NEPC for crafting the joint venture, stating, “What’s great about this agreement is that both parties share the goal of improving the electric service for Negrenses.”
“As legislators, we must remain open to the changing times. Our duty is to be responsive to the needs of our constituents, both now and in the future,” the lady senator continued.
Senator Poe highlighted that this new franchise will attract investors: “We are also striving to create a business-friendly environment because doing so will ensure the success of this venture and future endeavors.”
The representatives of both houses of Congress are expected to meet through a bicameral conference to fine-tune the law’s final version before sending it to the office of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
