Governor George Arnaiz said he favors the plan of the Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative 2 Board to have three districts in Dumaguete City, instead of only one.

He said the interest of Dumaguete has not been protected for a long time, although it earns the biggest revenue among all districts of NORECO 2. He said Dumaguete is the center of the commercial district, and the electric system should be improved, considering the coming in of new investors. Arnaiz said he believes that with additional representatives in the NORECO board, the concerns of Dumaguete will be addressed.

Arnaiz also said he was dismayed at what he described as a highly politicized board of directors of the cooperative.

The provincial government had offered a P27 million interest-free loan to NORECO 2 last year, but it was rejected by the general assembly.

Also approved during the general assembly was the proposal of an P85 million loan for the improvement of electric services of NORECO 2 to its consumers.

Dumaguete Mayor Agustin Perdices suggested that the NORECO 2 board invite a representative from the local government unit and the province to sit down in the Pre-Bids and Award Committee. This will ensure that the loan will be taken from a source with lower interest.

The governor admitted that there is corruption in the cooperative.

The assembly has approved the proposal of redistricting Dumaguete, the P85 million loan and the P887,000 budget of the cooperative.

Institutional Services chief Leovigildo Elmaco said they held a general assembly successfully this year and gathered close to 2,000 member-consumers.

If pushed through, the Dumaguete district will be divided into North, South District and West Districts.

The North covers 13 barangays with 6,182 member consumers. Among these are barangays Motong, Daro, Piapi, Bantayan, Looc and Poblacion 1 to 8.

South covers six barangays with six member consumers from barangays Taclobo, Tabuc-tubig, Mangnao, Bagacay, Calindagan and Banilad.

West covers 11 barangays with 18,000 members consumers from barangays Buñao, Candau-ay, Pulang-tubig, Batinguel, Camanjac, Balugo, Cadawinonan, Talay, Bajumpandan, Cantil-e and Junob.

Elmaco said the election for the BOD for the three Dumaguete District will be conducted in August next year.*MA

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