By SHERWIN DE VERA
www.nordis.net

VIGAN CITY — The head of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) will personally oversee the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) operation as it faces a leadership overhaul in the hope of resolving the issues plaguing the cooperative.

In a press conference at the cooperative’s office in Baguio City on January 11, NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda announced his assumption as Beneco project supervisor for six months.

Energy secretary Raphael Lotilla signed Almeda’s appointment paper on January 6. Aside from supervising the management and operation of the cooperative, he will also approve and disapprove board resolutions and assume other functions deemed necessary to direct the services of Beneco efficiently.

The row on the general manager’s seat between the camp of lawyer Ana Maria Rafael, appointed by NEA, and Engr. Melchor Licoben, designated by a majority of the Board of Directors (BOD) to lead the cooperative, has been going on for more than a year. NEA took over the Beneco office by force and installed its appointee. However, member-consumer-owners (MCOs) and employees regained control of the headquarters after three days through a peaceful protest.

The conflict has resulted in the freezing of several bank accounts and changes in signatories, with Rafael’s camp gaining authority over some cooperative funds. The battle for the funds reached a point that threatened the delivery of electricity in its service area, with Beneco’s failure to pay its suppliers regularly.

Aside from the tug-of-war between Licoben and Rafael, there are also allegations of fund mismanagement against BOD members.

Leadership overhaul

The removal of the current Board of Directors (BOD) and the creation of the five-person Task Force Beneco, which will act as the interim board, came with Almeda’s announcement.

NEA Board of Administrators (BOA) terminated the service of directors Esteban Somngi, Rocky Aliping, Enrique Moresto, Jonathan Obar, Robert Valentin, Josephine Tuling, Luke Gomeyac, Peter Busaing, Jeffred Acop, Mike Maspil, and James Aclopen based on the audit findings covering January 2018 to December 2020.

NEA said the individuals “unduly received benefits and allowances, availed of, and mismanaged substantial loans to the detriment of BENECO.” They also revised payment terms for several service providers without the NEA’s approval.

Steve Cating from the business sector will head the task force. The members are George Dumawing representing the consumers, Rodolfo De Guia for the religious sector, Elma Donaal from the academe, and Joaquin Geronimo Depalog, Jr. from the agricultural sector.

NEA-BOA also found Engr. Melchor Licoben was “administratively liable” and was slapped with a 45-day suspension.

Commenting on the decision, Somngi said “NEA made its complaint, it prosecutes and renders judgment.”

“(The) decision is not yet final and executory, therefore, appealable to the Court of Appeals,” the BOD chair added.

Meanwhile, NEA recalled Rafael’s appointment for “evidently (failing) to meet the NEA Key Performance Standards.”

“BENECO, since your assumption, has regressed to category B, coming from a Triple “A” category in 2019 NEA’s (Electric Cooperative) Overall Performance Assessment,” said the January 10 letter of Almeda.

The NEA chief assigned Beneco Network Systems Manager Engr. Ramel Rifani as acting general manager for six months.

Hope for stability

Almeda said the election of regular BOD members and appointment of a general manager would be his and the acting general manager’s priority. He intends to realize this within six months.

“With these developments, I hope that stability is brought back to Beneco’s operations, and the partnership between Beneco, the member-consumer-owners (MCOs), and NEA is only further strengthened,” he told the media.

He urged MCOs to support NEA’s decision.

“Lastly, let this serve as a warning to all those who seek to take advantage of their positions and of the member-consumer-owners, there is no sacred cow under my watch. I intend to exhaust any and all means allowed under the law, in partnership with other government agencies to ensure that people managing our electric cooperatives do not abuse their positions,” Almeda said. # nordis.net