Wednesday, August 9, 2023

La Trinidad Council to NEA: Set Beneco polls

MCOs start signature campaign

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Municipal Council or Sangguniang Bayan headed by Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan unanimously signed a resolution Friday, June 30, 2023 urging the National Electrification Administration and Task Force Beneco (Interim Board Directors) to “schedule immediately election of board of directors of the Benguet Electric Cooperative.”
    A signature campaign was also started last week by Beneco member-consumer-owners (MCOs) calling on NEA and Interim Board to schedule elections. 
    “This will put to rest issues on the proper representation of the member-consumers with the highest governing body of the cooperative,” said Municipal Council resolution No. 199-2023.
    A copy of the resolution was given to Mayor Romeo K. Salda for his information.
    The resolution was signed by Vice Mayor Roderick C. Awingan, Municipal Councilors John G. Botiwey, Guilbert 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. Juanito.
    “Beneco is owned by member-consumer-owners and governed by eleven board of directors pursuant to Section 1, article VI of the Beneco by-laws. These 11 members are chosen by MCOs through democratically called elections. MCOs are fully aware of problems besetting Beneco the past year. Through the proper media – social, print and broadcast, they are well informed of the issues on management, rate increase and how NEA handled these issues,” the resolution said.
    “RB Resolution No. 03-2023 has not specified the tenure or term of Task Force Beneco. At the different annual general membership assemblies (AGMAs), they are simply referred to as the Interim Board. The intention of the by-laws of Beneco is that it will be governed by democratically elected BODs. As Interim Board, Task Force Beneco implies a specific and limited function.”
    The Municipal Council said “electing the regular members of the Board of Directors would certainly resolve related issues and questions affecting the management and operation of Beneco.”
    The Municipal Council resolved to furnish copies of the resolution to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board), Municipal Councils (Sangguniang Bayan) of all Benguet towns and the Baguio City Council (Sangguniang Panglunsod).
    Copies of the resolution were also forwarded to Task Force Beneco and NEA for appropriate action.
    NEA and Interim Board directors couldn’t be reached for comment at presstime.
    The former Beneco board of directors were dismissed by NEA after an audit report.
    Interim Board Director Steve Cating later said the audit satisfactorily passed particularly during the time of Melchor Licoben as general manager. 
    Licoben was suspended for six months as NEA despite this.
    The NEA did not let Licoben assume his post as GM but relegated him as assistant general manager until now. -- AD

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