NEA hit over Beneco general manager tiff
>> Sunday, May 9, 2021
Palace Asec urged Du30 to get her appointed as GM
BAGUIO CITY – The National Electrification
Administration was hit for “violating its rules” in the selection and
endorsement for general manager of the Benguet Electric Cooperative here.
This, as the Benguet Provincial Board and Philreca (Philippine Association of Electric Cooperatives Association Inc.) were the latest to endorse last week engineer Melchor Licoben to be appointed as Beneco general manager.
All local government units of Benguet including Baguio City had endorsed Licoben’s appointment, who now heads Beneco as officer in charge to be appointed as general manager citing his expertise and qualifications.
This, even as the NEA had also reportedly endorsed Anna Marie Rafael Banaag for the position last week.
Bana-ag is Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
Banaag, had written President Rodrigo Duterte on June 30, 2020 asking for his endorsement for the position through the NEA, saying the position was vacated by the late GM Gerardo Versoza.
The Benguet Sangguniang Panlalawigan, in a resolution dated May 3, 2021 decided, “to strongly support the letter of the Beneco Board and Employees Association supporting the appointment of Engr. Melchor S. Licoben as general manager for the Benguet Electric Cooperative and forward this resolution to the Board of Administrators, National Electrification Administration through Atty. Vicar Loureen G. Franco, NEA Deputy Administrator for Electric Cooperative Management Services,” saying he was “highly qualified for the position.”
Copies were furnished the Beneco Board and Employees Association through its residents, Jefferd C. Monang and Jason Wayet, Licoben and Benguet Gov. Melchor D. Diclas.
The resolution was signed by Benguet Vice Gov. Johnny D. Waguis and board members Robert M. Namoro, Ruben E. Paoad, Roberto K. Canuto,Fernado B. Balaodan Sr., Jim G. Botiwey, Florencio V. Bentrez, Bernard. S. Waclin, Juan M. Nazarro Jr., Alexander T. Fianza, Neptali B. Camsol, Nestro B. Fongwan Jr., Jeston S. Balong-angey, Melchor C. Guesey and Recto C. Alawas.
Beneco employees and management took exception to allegations of Bana-ag she posted on Facebook her statement on the matter.
Their statement:
“We never had malice in expressing our honest belief on how the NEA Board of Administrators (BOA) processed the recruitment of the applicants for the GM of BENECO. Neither did we categorically say that the selection was rigged nor was tainted by fraud. Our stand is that the NEA BOA violated its own guidelines of recruitment based on the factual antecedents of the situation.
“(1)Necessarily, the qualifications of the applicants, pursuant to NEA Memorandum No. 2017-035 dated Oct. 24, 2017, will look into the technical competencies needed by the position of a GM for an electric cooperative. If at all that the skills of Atty. Rafael was mentioned, this became inevitable since applications for any position are judged in terms of the skills and competencies one could bring into a desired position. This context was never meant to diminish or demean the good Asec. There was never any malicious imputation.
(2)Our gripes center on the BOA that, as of date, has already issued a Resolution endorsing the application of the good Asec. We take to task the BOA:
“(a) The BOA’s decision to endorse a lone applicant based solely on the results of the final interview is highly questionable. The BOA prequalifies, screens and interviews the applicants. If both applicants are qualified, the BOA must endorse the two applicants to the Board of Directors of BENECO from whom the BOD could exercise their right to choose the GM. BOA RB Resolution No. 2021-47 admitted that both applicants were qualified and the most that it could have done is the ministerial function to endorse the two applicants to the BOD of BENECO.
“(b)BOA RB Resolution No. 2021-47 is fatally defective. It did not only deprive the BOD of its right to choose the GM. By endorsing only one applicant, it unlawfully, unwittingly or wittingly compromised the jurisdiction of the BOD to choose. Take note that the BOA used the scores in the final interview of the applicants as its basis in endorsing only one applicant. This reeks of injustice and ignorance of the rules. For one, there is nothing in NEA Memorandum No. 2017-035 that explicitly and categorically allows the BOA to endorse only one applicant based on the results of the final interview by the BOA. Allow us to say that the daily functions of the GM of an EC is not a daily dose of interviews but the technical mien that is needed to shepherd the E’s operations. The decision of the BOA simply ignored the technical competency required under NEA Memorandum No. 2017-035 since the BOA Resolution unfairly placed premium on the result of the final interview by the BOA.
“We explain.
(a)There was no vacancy in the first place in the position of the GM since the BOD of BENECO chose the second option of selecting a GM from the ranks of the Department Managers as per provisions of NEA Memorandum No. 2017-035. The interim departure from being an OIC GM applies when the vacancy was published and the position was opened to applicants. Here, the BOD of BENECO passed Resolution No.2020-90 dated April 21, 2020 naming already Engr. Licoben as the GM and Resolution No. 2020-190 dated August 23, 2020 stating that Engr. Licoben need not vacate his position in the interim. The NEA was furnished copies of the said Resolutions but the agency did not issue any standing order for Engr. Licoben to vacate his post as an OIC GM.
(b)What we could not understand is the BOA’s decision to ignore the fact that the position of AGM was purposely created as part of a succession plan to the GM. Engr. Licoben rightfully occupied the said position prior to his being named as the OIC GM. This was with the clear imprimatur of the NEA. Likewise, the overwhelming support of LGU and member consumers, which were all part of the dossier of Engr. Licoben, met a blind eye from the BOA which was appears hell bent to tweak its own rules and deny Engr. Licoben his right and qualifications as an applicant.
We are quite surprised to learn too that Atty. Rafael had a copy of the BOA Resolution when NEA Memorandum 2017-035 clearly states that “The list of applicants who passed the NEA Board final interview, with necessary information and results of the Background Investigation, shall then be transmitted to the EC Board for perusal and selection.” As of date, BENECO has yet to receive its official copy of the transmittal from NEA.”
A vigil was held at the grounds of the Beneco Building here Wednesday along South Drive where employees and officials aired their support for Licoben. – Alfred Dizon
This, as the Benguet Provincial Board and Philreca (Philippine Association of Electric Cooperatives Association Inc.) were the latest to endorse last week engineer Melchor Licoben to be appointed as Beneco general manager.
All local government units of Benguet including Baguio City had endorsed Licoben’s appointment, who now heads Beneco as officer in charge to be appointed as general manager citing his expertise and qualifications.
This, even as the NEA had also reportedly endorsed Anna Marie Rafael Banaag for the position last week.
Bana-ag is Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
Banaag, had written President Rodrigo Duterte on June 30, 2020 asking for his endorsement for the position through the NEA, saying the position was vacated by the late GM Gerardo Versoza.
The Benguet Sangguniang Panlalawigan, in a resolution dated May 3, 2021 decided, “to strongly support the letter of the Beneco Board and Employees Association supporting the appointment of Engr. Melchor S. Licoben as general manager for the Benguet Electric Cooperative and forward this resolution to the Board of Administrators, National Electrification Administration through Atty. Vicar Loureen G. Franco, NEA Deputy Administrator for Electric Cooperative Management Services,” saying he was “highly qualified for the position.”
Copies were furnished the Beneco Board and Employees Association through its residents, Jefferd C. Monang and Jason Wayet, Licoben and Benguet Gov. Melchor D. Diclas.
The resolution was signed by Benguet Vice Gov. Johnny D. Waguis and board members Robert M. Namoro, Ruben E. Paoad, Roberto K. Canuto,Fernado B. Balaodan Sr., Jim G. Botiwey, Florencio V. Bentrez, Bernard. S. Waclin, Juan M. Nazarro Jr., Alexander T. Fianza, Neptali B. Camsol, Nestro B. Fongwan Jr., Jeston S. Balong-angey, Melchor C. Guesey and Recto C. Alawas.
Beneco employees and management took exception to allegations of Bana-ag she posted on Facebook her statement on the matter.
Their statement:
“We never had malice in expressing our honest belief on how the NEA Board of Administrators (BOA) processed the recruitment of the applicants for the GM of BENECO. Neither did we categorically say that the selection was rigged nor was tainted by fraud. Our stand is that the NEA BOA violated its own guidelines of recruitment based on the factual antecedents of the situation.
“(1)Necessarily, the qualifications of the applicants, pursuant to NEA Memorandum No. 2017-035 dated Oct. 24, 2017, will look into the technical competencies needed by the position of a GM for an electric cooperative. If at all that the skills of Atty. Rafael was mentioned, this became inevitable since applications for any position are judged in terms of the skills and competencies one could bring into a desired position. This context was never meant to diminish or demean the good Asec. There was never any malicious imputation.
(2)Our gripes center on the BOA that, as of date, has already issued a Resolution endorsing the application of the good Asec. We take to task the BOA:
“(a) The BOA’s decision to endorse a lone applicant based solely on the results of the final interview is highly questionable. The BOA prequalifies, screens and interviews the applicants. If both applicants are qualified, the BOA must endorse the two applicants to the Board of Directors of BENECO from whom the BOD could exercise their right to choose the GM. BOA RB Resolution No. 2021-47 admitted that both applicants were qualified and the most that it could have done is the ministerial function to endorse the two applicants to the BOD of BENECO.
“(b)BOA RB Resolution No. 2021-47 is fatally defective. It did not only deprive the BOD of its right to choose the GM. By endorsing only one applicant, it unlawfully, unwittingly or wittingly compromised the jurisdiction of the BOD to choose. Take note that the BOA used the scores in the final interview of the applicants as its basis in endorsing only one applicant. This reeks of injustice and ignorance of the rules. For one, there is nothing in NEA Memorandum No. 2017-035 that explicitly and categorically allows the BOA to endorse only one applicant based on the results of the final interview by the BOA. Allow us to say that the daily functions of the GM of an EC is not a daily dose of interviews but the technical mien that is needed to shepherd the E’s operations. The decision of the BOA simply ignored the technical competency required under NEA Memorandum No. 2017-035 since the BOA Resolution unfairly placed premium on the result of the final interview by the BOA.
“We explain.
(a)There was no vacancy in the first place in the position of the GM since the BOD of BENECO chose the second option of selecting a GM from the ranks of the Department Managers as per provisions of NEA Memorandum No. 2017-035. The interim departure from being an OIC GM applies when the vacancy was published and the position was opened to applicants. Here, the BOD of BENECO passed Resolution No.2020-90 dated April 21, 2020 naming already Engr. Licoben as the GM and Resolution No. 2020-190 dated August 23, 2020 stating that Engr. Licoben need not vacate his position in the interim. The NEA was furnished copies of the said Resolutions but the agency did not issue any standing order for Engr. Licoben to vacate his post as an OIC GM.
(b)What we could not understand is the BOA’s decision to ignore the fact that the position of AGM was purposely created as part of a succession plan to the GM. Engr. Licoben rightfully occupied the said position prior to his being named as the OIC GM. This was with the clear imprimatur of the NEA. Likewise, the overwhelming support of LGU and member consumers, which were all part of the dossier of Engr. Licoben, met a blind eye from the BOA which was appears hell bent to tweak its own rules and deny Engr. Licoben his right and qualifications as an applicant.
We are quite surprised to learn too that Atty. Rafael had a copy of the BOA Resolution when NEA Memorandum 2017-035 clearly states that “The list of applicants who passed the NEA Board final interview, with necessary information and results of the Background Investigation, shall then be transmitted to the EC Board for perusal and selection.” As of date, BENECO has yet to receive its official copy of the transmittal from NEA.”
A vigil was held at the grounds of the Beneco Building here Wednesday along South Drive where employees and officials aired their support for Licoben. – Alfred Dizon
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