More Benguet dads push holding of Beneco polls
>> Saturday, August 12, 2023
Public hearing reset in Baguio to July 31
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet --– More Benguet municipal officials
pressed last week holding of elections to elect new board of directors of the
Benguet Electric Cooperative.
This, as a public hearing by the Baguio City Council to tackle the Beneco controversy like election of board of directors and power rate increases, postponed the past three weeks, was reset to July 31, early afternoon at City Hall.
City councilors wanted Beneco management to furnish related documents for the hearing but the power cooperative, now under a so-called interim board appointed by the National Electrification Administration reportedly did not release the papers to date.
The City Council invited representatives from the NEA, interim board and management of Beneco to the hearing.
This, as the mayors, vice mayors and municipal councils of Bokod and Mankayan towns of Benguet issued separate resolutions also calling for elections to elect new Beneco board of directors.
The Bokod and Mankayan officials signed their resolutions in support of a resolution officials of the capital town of La Trinidad calling for elections for new Beneco board directors.
Bokod officials who signed included mayor Thomas “Bongbong” Kisal Wales Jr., vice mayor Erik Donn Ignacio and municipal councilors Miguel Cosalan Jr., Doroteo Beray, Marian Calawen, Elinger Dayotao, Arthur Solano, Johnny Sama, Alejandro Basilio, Sonny Olas, Francis Delfin, Lim Marcelo and Charles Beray.
Councilors Baylon P. Galuten, Ambino T. Padawi and Norberto Anasan were on official business travel.
Prior to this, the Itogon, municipal council approved a resolution, “strongly
supporting a resolution made by the La Trinidad, Benguet Municipal Council urging the National Electrification Administration and Interim Board of Directors of the Benguet Electric Cooperative to immediately call for the election or selection of the Board of Directors of Beneco to put to rest issues on the proper representation of the member-consumer-owners with the highest governing body of the cooperative.”
The resolution dated July 10, 2023 was signed and approved by Itogon Mayor Bernardo S. Waclin, Vice Mayor and Municipal Council presiding officer Dante Alin Xavier D. Godio and Councilors Jodea A. Brendalyn R. Oay-Camuyot, Jaime C. Laduan, Alejandro L. Palangdan, Norberto I. Pacio, Cesar A. Altiga, Lison C. Latawan Jr., Albino A. Diego Noel D. Bilibli, Aljay K. Cuyahon and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Ernani S. Pis-oy.
It was certified correct by Rock H. Carino, Secretary to the Sanggunian.
The Itogon officials resolved to forward the resolution to the Municipality of La Trinidad through Vice Mayor Roderick C. Awingan, Mayor Romeo K. Salda, Task Force Beneco (Interim Board) and the NEA for “proper information and appropriate action.”
The Municipal Council of La Trinidad unanimously approved the resolution on June calling for Beneco elections in regular session presided by Vice Mayor Awingan.
Aside from Awingan, those who signed the resolution were Councilors John G. Botiwey, Gilbert A. Galwan, Francis A. Lee, Bartolome L. Baldas Jr., Apolinario A Bagano Jr., Jayson C. Dangwa, Teddy C. Walang, Henry M. Kipas, Charles T. Canuto and Secretary to the Sanggunian Edward M. Canuto.
Officials of La Trinidad, Mankayan, Bokod and Itogon and said elections were needed to replace the Beneco interim board of directors who were appointed through NEA Resolution No 03-2023 dated January 10, 2023, confirming the creation of a “Task Force Beneco” to act as Board of Directors of Beneco.
Under Beneco’s constitution and by- laws, the cooperative is governed by 11 BODs who are elected by member-consumer-owners, now numbering 142,000 in Baguio and Benguet.
“The MCOs are fully aware of the problems besetting the Beneco the past year, “ stated the La Trinidad resolution. “They are well informed of the issues on management, rate increase and how the NEA has handled these issues.”
“ Electing the regular members of the Board of Directors of Beneco would certainly resolve related issues and questions affecting the operation and management of Beneco,” the resolution said.
In a recent press forum, Steve Cating, Interim Board Chairman categorically said they were banned from running for election as regular BODs.
Cating’s statement was supported by Interim Board Members — lawyer George Dumawing, Jr., Elma Donaal and Rodolfo De Guia.
The Beneco controversy started when the NEA tried to install a former Malacanang official as Beneco general manager which was opposed by MCOs.
This, even if engineer Melchor Licoben was already sitting as GM considering he was appointed by the previous BODs which the NEA terminated.
Later, the NEA relegated Licoben to the position of assistant general manager evenif this was opposed by MCOs.
The NEA was able to do this when NEA Administrator, accompanied by Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong entered the Beneco headquarters here in South Drive last January and announced the termination of the previous BODs.
This, even if the NEA was not able to prove its allegations of financial mismanagement against the previous BODs, the former Beneco offiicals said. – Alfred Dizon
This, as a public hearing by the Baguio City Council to tackle the Beneco controversy like election of board of directors and power rate increases, postponed the past three weeks, was reset to July 31, early afternoon at City Hall.
City councilors wanted Beneco management to furnish related documents for the hearing but the power cooperative, now under a so-called interim board appointed by the National Electrification Administration reportedly did not release the papers to date.
The City Council invited representatives from the NEA, interim board and management of Beneco to the hearing.
This, as the mayors, vice mayors and municipal councils of Bokod and Mankayan towns of Benguet issued separate resolutions also calling for elections to elect new Beneco board of directors.
The Bokod and Mankayan officials signed their resolutions in support of a resolution officials of the capital town of La Trinidad calling for elections for new Beneco board directors.
Bokod officials who signed included mayor Thomas “Bongbong” Kisal Wales Jr., vice mayor Erik Donn Ignacio and municipal councilors Miguel Cosalan Jr., Doroteo Beray, Marian Calawen, Elinger Dayotao, Arthur Solano, Johnny Sama, Alejandro Basilio, Sonny Olas, Francis Delfin, Lim Marcelo and Charles Beray.
Councilors Baylon P. Galuten, Ambino T. Padawi and Norberto Anasan were on official business travel.
Prior to this, the Itogon, municipal council approved a resolution, “strongly
supporting a resolution made by the La Trinidad, Benguet Municipal Council urging the National Electrification Administration and Interim Board of Directors of the Benguet Electric Cooperative to immediately call for the election or selection of the Board of Directors of Beneco to put to rest issues on the proper representation of the member-consumer-owners with the highest governing body of the cooperative.”
The resolution dated July 10, 2023 was signed and approved by Itogon Mayor Bernardo S. Waclin, Vice Mayor and Municipal Council presiding officer Dante Alin Xavier D. Godio and Councilors Jodea A. Brendalyn R. Oay-Camuyot, Jaime C. Laduan, Alejandro L. Palangdan, Norberto I. Pacio, Cesar A. Altiga, Lison C. Latawan Jr., Albino A. Diego Noel D. Bilibli, Aljay K. Cuyahon and Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Ernani S. Pis-oy.
It was certified correct by Rock H. Carino, Secretary to the Sanggunian.
The Itogon officials resolved to forward the resolution to the Municipality of La Trinidad through Vice Mayor Roderick C. Awingan, Mayor Romeo K. Salda, Task Force Beneco (Interim Board) and the NEA for “proper information and appropriate action.”
The Municipal Council of La Trinidad unanimously approved the resolution on June calling for Beneco elections in regular session presided by Vice Mayor Awingan.
Aside from Awingan, those who signed the resolution were Councilors John G. Botiwey, Gilbert A. Galwan, Francis A. Lee, Bartolome L. Baldas Jr., Apolinario A Bagano Jr., Jayson C. Dangwa, Teddy C. Walang, Henry M. Kipas, Charles T. Canuto and Secretary to the Sanggunian Edward M. Canuto.
Officials of La Trinidad, Mankayan, Bokod and Itogon and said elections were needed to replace the Beneco interim board of directors who were appointed through NEA Resolution No 03-2023 dated January 10, 2023, confirming the creation of a “Task Force Beneco” to act as Board of Directors of Beneco.
Under Beneco’s constitution and by- laws, the cooperative is governed by 11 BODs who are elected by member-consumer-owners, now numbering 142,000 in Baguio and Benguet.
“The MCOs are fully aware of the problems besetting the Beneco the past year, “ stated the La Trinidad resolution. “They are well informed of the issues on management, rate increase and how the NEA has handled these issues.”
“ Electing the regular members of the Board of Directors of Beneco would certainly resolve related issues and questions affecting the operation and management of Beneco,” the resolution said.
In a recent press forum, Steve Cating, Interim Board Chairman categorically said they were banned from running for election as regular BODs.
Cating’s statement was supported by Interim Board Members — lawyer George Dumawing, Jr., Elma Donaal and Rodolfo De Guia.
The Beneco controversy started when the NEA tried to install a former Malacanang official as Beneco general manager which was opposed by MCOs.
This, even if engineer Melchor Licoben was already sitting as GM considering he was appointed by the previous BODs which the NEA terminated.
Later, the NEA relegated Licoben to the position of assistant general manager evenif this was opposed by MCOs.
The NEA was able to do this when NEA Administrator, accompanied by Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong entered the Beneco headquarters here in South Drive last January and announced the termination of the previous BODs.
This, even if the NEA was not able to prove its allegations of financial mismanagement against the previous BODs, the former Beneco offiicals said. – Alfred Dizon
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