State-run National Electrification Administration ordered the removal of Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc.’s board of directors for alleged “long-standing irregularities.”
NEA said the BENECO directors allegedly availed of and mismanaged substantial loans to the detriment of the electric cooperative and amended the terms of payment for several service providers without the required approval of NEA.
It said the removed BENECO directors were disqualified for reinstatement or reemployment in any electric cooperative, to run as candidates for a board position in any cooperative, with their other monetary benefits forfeited. It also ordered them to refund to BENECO the disallowed amounts they received.
NEA approved the creation of Task Force BENECO to act as the board of directors in the interim. It will be composed of representatives from various sectors such as the business, academe/education, consumer/professional, agricultural and religious sectors.
The agency also recalled the probationary employment of BENECO’s general manager effective immediately.
It said BENECO’s rating as an electric cooperative regressed to category C from AAA category in the 2019 NEA EC overall performance assessment.
The Department of Energy directed NEA administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda to act as BENECO’s project supervisor for six months, which was ratified by the NEA board of administrators.
Almeda will supervise the management and operation of the electric coop to ensure the delivery of electric service to the member-consumer-owners.
BENECO network systems manager Ramel Rifani will act as acting general manager for six months. Alena Mae S. Flores
