Beneco, top coop with 8 nat’l awards

EDITORIAL 

The Benguet Electric Cooperative, then teetering on the verge of collapse during its formative years, has come of age, capturing eight awards that accent on its stability  during the Lumen Awards at the national conference of electric cooperatives last April 28 in Tagum City.

Steered by general manager Gerry Verzosa and board president Rocky Aliping, BENECO copped awards for the “Single Digit System Loss for the Year”, lowest power rate (on grid), best in collection performance, model headquarters facilities, Triple A category award, certificates of recognition for participation in Task Force Kapatid for victims of  Typhoon Lawin and typhoon Nina, and exemplary management award for the general manager.

The numerous awards came as the electric cooperative was preparing to hold its 37th annual general membership assembly which, for this year, will be held in three venues to ensure widest participation.

The first assembly was last June 3 at the St. Paul’s Academy in Sayangan, Atok, Benguet. The second will be on June 10 at the municipal gym in Sablan, Benguet and the third on June 17 at the Baguio City National High School.

The local coop pulled down its average system loss to 9.08 percent,  resulting in savings equivalent to several millions of pesos,  a 100 percent collection efficiency and a power rate of P7.1292 per kilowatthour.

BENECO was able  whittle down its operations costs despite operating in a rugged terrain that normally demands more expense, terrain, besting several coops servicing the flat lowlands.

With its heap of awards, the electric cooperative has gone a long way since its slow, shaky start marked by turn-overs of managers appointed by the National Electrification Administration during its formative years.

 Under Verzosa’s leadership BENECO turned into one of the country’s most stable electric cooperatives in the country.  Congratulations! – RD