The Bacolod clergy yesterday issued an appeal to the Energy Regulatory Commission not to approve the power sales contract between the Central Negros Electric Cooperative and KEPCO-Salcon Power Corp. until further consultations with significant stakeholders are held.

Signed by Bishop Vicente Navarra and 70 priests in the Diocese of Bacolod, the appeal addressed to ERC chairman Rodolfo Albano, expressed the clergy's strong opposition to the contract.

The appeal stated that after adequately hearing all sides of the controversy, the pastors are concerned about the welfare of the people.

The group said the contract is a violation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act which provides open access for consumers to choose for their power provider.

The contract signed by CENECO with KEPCO-Salcon is against the interest of the poor as it will not guarantee lower electricity rate since coal products will be subject to Expanded Value Added Tax and the dictates of foreign exchange rate, the priests stated in the appeal.

Members of the clergy added that KEPCO-Salcon, being a coal fired power plant provider will add to the carbon dioxide emission that can worsen global warming.

The complete text of the appeal may be found on page 7 of this issue.

Earlier, CENECO president Roberto Montelibano had explained that the cooperative agreed to sign a contract with KEPCO-Salcon to assure consumers of sufficient power supply by 2010.

The authority for him to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with KEPCO-Salcon for the power sales contract, was given by the board of directors of CENECO who represents the consumers, Montelibano said.

He said the contract is legitimate and it is similar to that of the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative that was approved by ERC on September 19 this year.

Montelibano added that the ERC welcomes opposition to CENECO-KEPCO-Salcon power sales contract application and it might schedule another hearing to hear the opinion of parties concerned.*NAB

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