Negros Electric and Power Corp. (Negros Power) has officially launched the Lacson Street Underground Distribution System Project in Bacolod City, marking a significant step towards modernizing the city’s infrastructure. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the Capitol Park and Lagoon, attended by key figures including Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya, and Negros Power’s top executives, Roel Castro and Bernard Bailey del Castillo.
The project, valued at P79 million, will initially cover a one-kilometer stretch starting in January 2025, with a completion target set for 10 months later, just before the MassKara Festival. This initiative is part of a larger plan that includes a total of six kilometers of underground cabling, integrated into Negros Power’s PHP2 billion capital expenditure program.
Negros Power’s CEO, Roel Castro, emphasized the project’s role in the broader infrastructure development, while COO Bernard Bailey del Castillo detailed the financial breakdown, with PHP43 million allocated for civil and electrical works and PHP36 million for the reconfiguration and removal of overhead wires.
Mayor Benitez expressed his support for the project, highlighting its importance in addressing the city’s ‘spaghetti wires’ problem. He praised Negros Power for their prompt response to the city’s call for underground cabling, which aligns with a forthcoming ordinance proposed by Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella.
Negros Power, a joint venture with Central Negros Electric Cooperative, secured a 25-year franchise in July to manage electricity distribution across Bacolod and five neighboring areas. The company also recently received a provisional certificate from the Energy Regulatory Commission, enabling full operational capabilities.