Bacolod bishop helped Ceneco and city hall see the light

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra Saturday took up the cudgels for the people of Bacolod. And the protagonists in the row between city hall and the Central Negros Electric Cooperative eventually saw the light. And voila the lights went on in the city.

Credit for the mediation by the Bacolod prelate goes to Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue. She was the one who immediately perceived the devastating impact on the economy and the lives of Bacolod residents when Ceneco cut off the electrical connection to the city hall, the government center and the Libertad Markets.

But the problem – city hall padlocked the administrative building of the power firm in retaliation. And, as explained later by Ceneco, their manpower failed to respond immediately to power outrages that rocked several areas of the city, stirring the public. Including, of course, it power companies, which were threatened by the blackouts.

Batapa-Sigue immediately knew that a prolongation of the standoff between the two protagonists could have a disastrous impact on the city. Call centers could cancel their business in the city and this could mean a layoff of thousands employed by these firms. And there were also tons of perishable food items in public markets and restaurants.

Time for the Church to step into the fray to put a stop to what some called an experience “childish” game played by both the Ceneco and the city government.

The lady councilor eventually requested the Bacolod prelate to mediate the conflict between the two entities. That situation had reached a standoff that could have end with catastrophic results for the city and the people of Bacolod.

The cause, Ceneco cut off the power to city hall, the new government center, and Libertad Market and other office. The reason – failure by city hall to pay its outstanding bills to the power firm.

The city in turn had claimed that the power firm owed the city some P84 million in franchise and real property taxes. This case was pending before the court.

It was hardball game played by both sides. And it played havoc with Bacolodnons.

City Mayor Evelio Leonardia even injected politics into the power play. He claimed that several had seen Rep. Monico Puentevella (his potential rival for the mayoralty race) in the Ceneco office. But Puentevella pointed out later that he was attending the hearing by the House on the “Alabang Boys” and could not be at the Ceneco.

Leonardia further aggravated the situation when he called on the consumers not to pay Ceneco their power bills. Later, Ceneco’s emergency crew claimed to have failed to attend to all the emergency calls. And the city almost was completely blacked Saturday night.

Well, all’s well that ends well, although one wonders what both entities had accomplished with their “childish” behavior. Both flexed their muscles and came to an agreement.

City administrator Roger Balo initially attended the mediation meeting called by Bishop Navarra. Actually, he said, the checks for P8.8 – million due to Ceneco had already been prepared but not delivered when the power firm cut off power.

Later, Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Zamora arrived to attend the meeting. Also presented was National Electric Administrator Edith Bueno who helped call up Leonardia and Ceneco president Vicente Sabornay.

The meeting ended with the two groups signing a seven point agreement. These included the lifting by the city of the padlock, Ceneco to accept the P8.8 million payment of the city, the balance of P1.1 million to be paid after 15 days; Ceneco to restore power and repair troubled feeders, the city hall to issue Ceneco the needed 2008-09 business permit; the power firm to accept the application for power for new government center upon submission of the deed of donation to the property, and Ceneco to pay the franchise tax to the city 15 days based on the distribution charges, and for both parties to resolve all future conflicts amicably.

Actually, the issue was resolved at 4 a.m. Sunday morning.

Zamora had already prepared a notice of distrait and levy to garnish all Ceneco properties including bank deposits. But some groups were also already readying to march the city hall.

The tempers of businessmen and subdivision owners had already reached a boiling point when the mediation was decided upon by Bishop Navarra on request of Councilor Batapa-Sigue.

Actually this was the second time this incident happened. During the term of former Bacolod Mayor Oscar Verdeflor the power firm had also disconnected power at city hall. And the city legal officer then was also Allan Zamora and Verdeflor also ordered Ceneco padlocked.

A tense situation developed then when the Bacolod police found elements of the regional mobile force deployed at the power firm.

Anyway, all that seems to have ended. But the power feud could threaten to erupt again into a confrontation unless both groups mature and abide with their promise to settle henceforth all differences in awareness that the public deserve a better mindset.