By Herbert Vego
YESTERDAY’s bad news was the sudden increase in prices of gasoline and diesel by P1.00 and P1.20, respectively.
The good news is that MORE Power’s residential electricity rate in Iloilo City has decreased from P12.86 to P12.66 per kilowatt-hour for bills received from August 18, 2024, to September 12, 2024.
I can’t say the same of the three branches of the Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO), which reported rates ranging from P13.33 to P16.86/kWh.
Now it’s obvious why the Sangguniang Bayan of Pavia, Iloilo has passed a resolution urging MORE Power to forge a joint venture agreement (JVA) with ILECO 1.
The resolution stressed that MORE Power offers significantly lower electricity rates compared to ILECO I. As of July 2024, ILECO 1 was charging P14.85/kWh.
The Pavia SB cited for example MORE Power’s expansion into the central areas of Negros Island through a joint venture agreement with Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) under a new name, the Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC).
That’s a step farther ahead of what MORE Power has achieved – the expansion of its services from Iloilo City to 15 towns of Iloilo province and Passi City, enabling it to engage in direct competition with ILECO.
Should ILECO 1 and MORE power agree to a joint venture, then all towns serviced by ILECO 1 in the 1st and 2nd Districts would benefit.
The Supreme Court has ruled that “electric cooperatives do not have a constitutional right to an exclusive franchise within their coverage areas.”
That ruling is in response to the ILECOs petition challenging the validity of Republic Act (RA) No. 11918, expanding MORE Power’s franchise into their coverage areas.
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ON THE JVA BETWEEN PRIMELECTRIC AND CENECO
PRIMELECTRIC Holdings Inc (PHI) (PHI), which is also the mother company of MORE Power, has not really taken over CENECO. Under their joint venture agreement forming a new company, Negros Electric and Power Corporation (NEPC), they would benefit from 70/30 sharing. According to spokesman Jon Cabrera:
Both will acquire a 25-year franchise from Congress.
PHI will defray P1.7 billion pesos as payment for CENECO’s distribution assets nga valued at P2.4 billion.
This amount will pay for CENECO’S debts to the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and various banks, to refund bill deposits and to pay for separation and retirement benefits of employees.
CENECO will be entitled to a 30% profit share from NEPC.
Consumers will be entitled to a dividend from CENECO’s 30%.
CENECO employees will be given hiring priority.
NEPC will allot P2 billion pesos for rehabilitation and modernization of the facilities.
NEPC will maintain better service and more affordable power rates.
System’s loss will be brought down.
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GMO AND ORGANIC FARMING CAN CO-EXIST
MAKE Antique aware of developments in agricultural biotechnology and its benefits particularly in increasing crop production, crop resilience to climate change and reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
With this goal in mind, experts from the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines and the Biotechnology Program Office of Dept of Agriculture are now in various places in Antique conducting a forum on “Biotechnology Supporting the Philippine Government’s Food Sufficiency and Security Goal” in partnership with the provincial government.
Our friend Joe Escartin, one of the forum organizers, told us of the need for the province to engage in organic farming using genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
GMO is a plant, animal or microbe in which one or more changes have been made to the genome, typically using high-tech genetic engineering, in an attempt to alter the characteristics of an organism.
“In Antique,” Joe said, “organic farming and cultivation of GMOs can co-exist and provide a balanced approach in developing agriculture, giving farmers and consumers freedom to choose according to their values and needs.”
Contrary to some cynics’ preconceived notion, GMO foods are as healthful and safe to eat as their non-GMO counterparts. Some GMO plants have actually been modified to improve their nutritional value. An example is GMO soybeans with healthier oils that can be used to replace oils that contain trans fats.
Sangguniang Panlungsod member Pio Sumande agrees. Laking-GMO siya kaya malakas pa sa kalabaw, so I heard.
