Power consumers on Monday rejected moves in Congress to privatize electric cooperatives, saying it will only worsen the problem of dirty and costly energy in the Philippines.
“Privatization of electric cooperatives for Negros will only worsen the problem of dirty and costly energy,” said Gerry Arances, convener of the Power for People Coalition in a news statement.
“Privatization of most of the energy and power industry has given way to big corporations calling the shots in the country’s energy policy at the expense of power consumers,” he said.
Arances cited the speech given by Negros Electric Cooperatives Association President Dan Pondevilla during the opening ceremony of the Fifth Annual Neca Team Building Festival at Brooke’s Place, Dumaguete City, last Saturday, calling electric coops in Negros to unite against the proposal.
“While we must remain vigilant against this proposal, it also should serve as a challenge to electric coops across the country to get their act together in delivering clean, affordable and reliable electricity in the island,” Arances continued.
“We do not want to become like Metro Manila, where privatization has slowed the development of renewable energy, and has led to various pass-on provisions charged to the electric consumer,” said Grid Alila, coordinator of Murang Kuryente-Negros.
The youth of Negros decried the proposal, saying privatization will give big corporations greater influence in smuggling coal power plants into the island.