Mayors met with
Ceneco officials

I was happy to have been scolded yesterday by His Honor Esteban Henares Coscolluela, more known to his friends as Sonny. His Honor told me I did not research enough before writing my column yesterday.

Actually I wrote that Mayors in the CENECO district should make their stand on the CENECO-KEPCO power sales contract. That should they make a wrong decision the future generation might condemn us for “selling them down the river.”

Sonny said, he was to meet with CENECO President Bobby Montelibano with the other Mayors. At the time of this writing, I still don't know the result of their meeting. Sonny said, he would ask CENECO to convince him that the power sales contract will be good for CENECO consumers. Otherwise, he said, he would go for scrapping it.

Oh, Sonny Coscolluela I believe when he met with the CENECO people he was very prepared with his studies. I know he will stand for what is good for the consumers.

Sonny was our former student at La Salle . He is among the first graduates of the Asian Institute of Management. He is bright.

* * *

Many of our Mayors in the CENECO area were also close to us, starting with Bacolod Mayor Bing Leonardia, Silay Mayor Oti Montelibano, Talisay Mayor Eric Saratan, and Bago City Mayor Monet Torres. And Congressman Monico Puentevella too.

I will be very happy to be scolded by them because I did not bother to find out they also stand for the good of the consumers. If KEPCO supplying electricity is good for the consumers and very openly discussed that leaves no room for doubt, then let's go for it.

As Mayor Coscolluela said, he also would have to listen to Kepco. I agree. All of us. Except that Ceneco did not make public the provisions of the contract raising suspicions.

But the best venue for these discussions is the Congressional hearing here being arranged by Rep. Kako Lacson (Neg. Occ., 3 rd District).

Well, as I said, as of this writing, I still don't know the result of the meeting of the Mayors with Bobby Montelibano.

* * *

When the Congressional hearing will be made here in Bacolod on the CENECO-KEPCO power sales contract, many groups have signified their intention to attend and voice their concern.

One of these is the Freedom from Debt Coalition, Negros headed by its Secretary General Esperanza Resus. Ms. Resus even said, the CENECO-KEPCO deal concerns the Human Rights issue.

There's never a dull moment for Bacolod media. There is always a big issue. Next is the coming transport strike. But that will be passing. The CENECO-KEPCO deal will be with us for a time until the issue is resolved.

There is just one thing I am happy about, no one dropped the name of the President or that of the First Gentleman to show things are already fixed upstairs.

If Rep. Iggy Arroyo (Neg. Occ., 5 th District) did not bother when NOCECO signed the contract with KEPCO, it was because there is not much opposition there. And NOCECO people do not mind paying a higher bill. But in the CENECO area, we are more alert.

* * *

Talking of name dropping, the President's people here, Rep. Monico Puentevella and Rep. Iggy Arroyo should caution some Chinese consultants in the repair of the Bago irrigation.

I was told by some farmers in Bago that when they complained to these Chinese consultants and engineers these farmers were told, the delay and other complaints made are already being fixed upstairs, making hints that “people upstairs” are in it.

I reiterate these talks should be stopped. Most of the corrupt downstairs, to impress others that they are also powerful, make it appear their corruption is with the blessings of “those upstairs” reaching the President.

Just like during Martial Law, big businessmen at the time would drop hints that the Marcos family or the Enrile family were their investors to shield them from the harassment of the military and local leaders.

When I get specifics on these, I will ask my friend James Chua to join me in exposing them. Not now, all these are just mere reports and its all about name dropping.

* * *

I hope to go to Bago and see the new NIA Superintendent Tito Dato-on and Project Director Sam Japitana. I was told by the farmers the two are performing well. The bigger problem is with Tito Dato-on, Farmers go to him on the delay of the work of the repair. That is not his job. He handles the operation.

It's now December. Next month when rains will be scarce there will be a water problem. But NIA, both Dato-on and Japitana are said to be at the top of the problem. They can solve it.

* * *

The head of the Bacolod SK is the son of Councilor Dindo Ramos, Kevin Daniel Ramos. Daniel Ramos was a very well known Pre-War Councilor of Bacolod after whom a street on the western side of the Burgos public market has been named.

Daniel Ramos is the grandfather of Mayor Bing Ramos Leonardia, father of my friend, Toti Ramos. The young new Councilor now Kevin Daniel Ramos is grandson of the Mayor, his grandfather being the Mayor's cousin and great grandson of Toti.

I look forward to the young Councilor Daniel Ramos to once in a while disagree with his father to show his independent-mindedness. I believe Dindo will allow him that.*

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