NEPC Employment is Not Automatic for CENECO Employees – Sen. Poe

One of the biggest concerns during the initial talks for the CENECO JVA with Primelectric is the displacement of CENECO employees. Senator Grace Poe, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Services, clarified that employees of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) could not be absorbed automatically by Negros Electric and Power Corporation (Negros Power). That is why in this light, Negros Power President Roel Castro is urging CENECO employees to send in their applications to the new company to secure their NEPC employment.

CENECO Employees Should Apply for their NEPC Employment – Sen. Grace Poe

Senator Grace Poe, during the committee hearing on the franchise bill of Negros Power last Tuesday, March 5, 2024, stressed that CENECO employees should secure their NEPC employment already. They can only do so if they apply for specific positions in the new company.

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The lady senator believes there are employees of CENECO who are excellent in their jobs and deserve to be absorbed. On the other side, it cannot be denied that there are also lazy employees so she believes that it will be unfair to the joint venture company if they hire them automatically.

“May mga miyembro kayong excellent, masisipag, they deserve to be absorbed, they deserve to be employed pero I’m sure kayo rin mismo meron kayong mga nakikitang mga empleyado na matatamad naman, wala naman mga ginagawa. That’s also not fair, ha“, Senator Poe told the union.

“Hindi po yan automatic na porket employee ka kailangan may trabaho ka forever. Hindi po ganun,” she added.

• Read: What Happens After Approval of the Negros Power Franchise in Congress

NEPC Employment Should be Based on Performance

The Senator also advocated that the hiring of employees must be based on performance and not based on the age, gender, or appearance of the employee. “Kaya kapag sinabing lahat kukunin, lahat nang qualified dapat kunin. Wala sa age, wala sa gender, wala sa itsura but based on performance”.

Senator Poe believes that a joint venture company needs people who are working and are dedicated to their jobs to guarantee its success. As a new company determined to improve the power distribution utility in Bacolod City and Central Negros, NEPC needs the help and commitment of its employees. “So employment is not a right; you also have to be able to fulfill your responsibilities,” she added. Hence the a need for CENECO employees to apply and go through with the subsequent screening needed for NEPC employment.

• Read: NEA Approves the Modernization of CENECO with Negros Power

She also assured the CENECO employees that the granting of the franchise would be beneficial to them, “Lahat tayo dito merong nakasalalay na matatamasa na benepisyo kung maging maayos ang serbisyo doon sa lugar ninyo. Huwag kayong matakot na ma etsapwera. Dapat kasama kayo sa paglago.”

Negros Power Hiring

The Joint Venture Agreement of CENECO and Primelectric/NEPC and the proposed franchise gives first preference to CENECO employees in the hiring of the workforce of the new distribution utility for Central Negros.

Negros Power President Roel Castro informed the senator that there are more than 250 employees of CENECO who have already submitted their applications, and they are now in the process of hiring them.

In the hearing, Senator Poe also emphasized the need for capitalization in a distribution utility service to support the progress of the franchise area.

“Kaya ba ninyo ang capitalization para kunyari may mga call centers na lilipat, may mga hotels. Kaya ba e-electrify lahat yun?” her challenge to those who oppose the entry of the private sector.

She highlighted that Electric Cooperatives such as CENECO can no longer provide the necessary expertise in developing areas. “Alam nyo, iba na ang development ngayon. Noon kasi electrification. Ngayon, umunlad na kasi ang mga bayan. Unfortunately, cooperatives may not have the technical knowledge or the corporate competence to be able to supply the power needed in those areas.”

• Related: SecuRE Negros: Ensuring Power Security with Renewable Energy