Central Negros Electric Cooperative president Ed Guillem lashed out at the members of a group who held a protest action in front of the CENECO office yesterday, saying they were misinformed and were raising recycled issues.

About 30 members of the Freedom from Debt Coalition-Negros, Sanlakas and Partido ng Manggagawa questioned, among others, the alleged anomalous contracts of CENECO in the purchase of its sub-station in Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City and of a generator set during the Southeast Asian Games in the city last year.

In a telephone interview with the DAILY STAR, Guillem chided the group for holding what he calls a "non-rally" of "non-Ceneco consumers."

Their claims have no basis; if they want to know the truth, they should inquire from us, he said, adding that the purchases of the two equipment in question had complete documents and that proper procedures were followed.

Although Guillem justified the urgent need to acquire a 30MVA substation, he said it was not he who signed the check for the purchase of the generator set worth P800,000 as he was not in Bacolod at that time.

He said that the purchase price of the substation was reduced to P4.3 million from the original price of P6.9 million, adding that there is already a delivery at the site in Brgy. Alijis.

The acquisition of the substation, he said, was due three years ago yet and the power facility is needed by CENECO to help reduce its systems losses and thereby, reduce power costs.

Guillem said that questions on the misuse of the 5 percent Reinvestment Fund are also baseless, adding that the fund could not be used for other purposes aside from the rehabilitation of power lines and other related activities, and the disbursement should have clearance from the National Electrification Administration and a resolution from the board.

He said there is no truth to the claim that CENECO is not managed properly because its accomplishments speak for itself. He cited the decrease in systems loss, from 15.5 percent in 2004 to 13.8 percent in 2005, which could still drop to 12 percent to 10 percent with the installation of a new substation.

CENECO is now in Category A+, based on NEA standards, a significant improvement compared to its performance in the previous years, Guillem said.

He added that CENECO had recovered 1.2 million kilowatts of pilfered electricity as of last year and has a 94 percent collection efficiency in 2005.*NLG

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