Gov’t stifles ailing Abra power firm’s management

Drug users to be fired          

By Maria Teresa B. Benas

BANGUED, Abra – Attempts by management of ailing Abra Electric Coop. to put its finances in order has ironically been stifled – by government intervention.

Attempts to streamline staffing of Abreco have been initiated the past years when complaints from general membership had been raised due to high cost of personal services.

However, with government intervention, the employees who have been fired were reinstated.

Based on Abreco rehabilitation plan, one major problem in its operation that surfaced remains the same, and that is over-staffing that incurred high cost in administrative operation.

Richard Tuzon, head of Abreco’s institutional services department said re-organization is still under study with help of National Electrification Administration, reason why NEA people visited the power firm recently to consult officials and staff.

It was found functions have to be determined as basis for staffing when re-organization will start.

Meanwhile, relative to Abreco operation and management and in support to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s all-out war against illegal drugs, general manager Loreto P. Seares, Jr. led employees in drug test.

Tuzon, however, clarified news exposed by local police and media that  total number of employees that turned positive in the drug test was only 19 and not 90.

He said employees who turned positive in drug test are now undergoing rehabilitation.

After three months of rehabilitation, they will be subjected again to another drug test. 

If they will turn positive again, they will be forced to resign or dismissed automatically.