A group of Central Negros Electric Cooperative consumers representing various consumers and progressive organizations have asked the National Electrification Administration to act on what it calls "irregular and highly questionable" projects approved by the CENECO Board, including the controversial substations in Alijis and Mabini in Bacolod City.

In its letter to NEA Administrator Editha Bueno dated April 19, the group said that, in the interest of transparency and accountability in the operations of CENECO, they are urgently requesting NEA to act on the issues they have raised.

They hope, they said, that their request will be considered on or before April 30, otherwise, they will seek appropriate remedies from other government agencies. They said that NEA should implement the immediate preventive measures and appropriate remedies pursuant to Presidential Decree 269 as amended and in accordance to NEA administrative rules and procedures;

Cancel the two "illegal contracts executed between CENECO and Power Star Inc. on Sept. 21 and Nov. 30, all in 2005, for P69.356 million and P43.683 million, respectively;

Demand for refund of the amount "illegally paid" to Power Star Inc. amounting to P21.841 million; and,

Require OIC-general manager and CENECO Board of Directors to shoulder the amount of P2.940 million, representing the difference between contract award for Mabini substation 30 MVA substation for P34.940 million and the P32 million budget.

The group also asked NEA to furnish them three copies of the report on the NEA audit on CENECO from February to March 2006. The signatories were Romeo Lavilla of CENECO Consumers Coalition and Action Group, Esperanza Resus of Partido ng Manggagawa, Delia Gerardino of Sanlakas Negros, Edwin Balajadia of Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement-Negros, Ma. Teresa Lozada of Confederation of Independent Union-Negros, Prescilla Goco of Workers Development Center, Salome Deocampo of Task Force Detainees of the Philippines-Negros, Haydee Pompong of Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita Lungsod - Negros, Romualdo Noble of Bukluran ng Mangagawang Pilipino-Negros, and Moven Ligahon of Freedom from Debt Coalition - Negros.*NLG

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