Group of rural electric co-ops backs NEA’s move to oust BENECO board
By Manila Standard – January 15, 2023, 6:45 pm
from manilastandard.net
An umbrella organization of electric cooperatives lauded the decision of the National Electrification Administration to recall the probational appointment of the general manager of the Benguet Electric Cooperative.
The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, which has evolved into a party-list political entity, said NEA administrator Mariano Antonio Almeda took a move in the right direction.
“The service of energizing and distributing power to the public within its franchise area carried out by electric cooperatives should not be afflicted with self-interest nor politicized,” PHILRECA party-list Rep. Presley De Jesus said in a statement.
He lauded Almeda for “taking this necessary step” and “be able to deliver high-quality service to the member-consumer owners.”
“The current NEA sdministrator demonstrates integrity, dedication and determination in serving the Ecs and MCOs. Moving forward, we hope that in the process of selecting and appointing BENECO’s heneral manager, NEA and all concerned stakeholders would strictly abide by the established rules and regulations in order to maintain the peaceful and competitive service of the cooperative to its MCOs,” De Jesus said.
The NEA, in a resolution issued earlier this week, ordered the removal of BENECO’s directors. The agency also recalled the probationary appointment of lawyer Ana Maria Paz Rafael as the general manager of BENECO “effective immediately.”
BENECO’s rating regressed to category C from AAA category in the 2019 NEA electric cooperatives overall performance assessment, the NEA said.
The NEA alleged the sacked directors “unduly received benefits and allowances, availed of and mismanaged substantial loans to the detriment of BENECO, as well as amended the terms of payment for several of its service providers without the required approval of NEA, among others.”
It said BENECO’s removed directors were disqualified for reinstatement or reemployment in any electric cooperative, to run as candidate for a board of director position in any cooperative, with their other monetary benefits forfeited, and ordered them to refund to BENECO the disallowed amounts they received.”
The NEA approved the creation of Task Force BENECO to act as interim board of directors, composed of representatives from various sectors such as the business, academe/education, consumer/professional, agricultural and religious sectors.
De Jesus said PHILRECA party-list rallied behind NEA and expressed support to Almeda “in the pursuit of total electrification and sustainable rural development in the country.”
