NEA asked to seek ‘compromise’ over Benguet electric coop
By Myrna M. Velasco – November 23, 2021, 3:48 PM
from Manila Bulletin
Government-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) is being urged to strike a compromise with the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO), so consumers will not be groping in the dark, especially during the Christmas holidays.
According to Senate Committee on Energy Chairman Sherwin T. Gatchalian, the lingering impasse between the employees and officers of the power utility has been placing consumers on a very precarious condition, because that could lead to unwanted service disruptions.
“My worry is the stability of the operations of BENECO,” Gatchalian said, emphasizing that even the highly urbanized City of Baguio, which is part of its service area, will suffer tormenting rotational blackouts if the standoff in the utility company won’t be resolved soon.
“Seeing your electric cooperative being manhandled doesn’t send a good signal to consumers and that is a concern,” the lawmaker stressed.
Given that predicament then, Gatchalian shared that he already asked NEA “to look into this matter and find a compromise rather than a litigation or instigating forceful implementation.”
He further conveyed that “residents and business owners are worried if there will be any sabotage in the operations of BENECO or if disruptions in their electricity supply will take place in the days to come.”
Electricity service is considered an economic backbone of any country, and this is a highly essential commodity especially at this time when the country is enthusiastically tugging its way into recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
And to the individual consumers of BENECO, electricity is also a basic service they can continually lean on so they can live sustainably and conveniently – not just in their homes but also in their places of work or studies.
Given the thickening plot of conflict at BENECO, Gatchalian indicated that he will push for an investigation on concerns surrounding the issues, so the government and relevant stakeholders can establish firm and lasting solutions to the predicaments of management as well as the operational concerns of the electric cooperative.
“The planned inquiry into the issues between BENECO and NEA will still push through as the conduct of proceedings is in aid of legislation,” Gatchalian expounded.
A complaint was earlier filed by BENECO against an official of NEA, former Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Rafael and several others; following an attempt to take over BENECO’s operations last October 18.
NEA Administrator Emmanuel Juaneza also noted in turn that there is a pending case against BENECO “related to audit findings conducted by the internal NEA audit team.”
