DOE ensures uninterrupted power service in Beneco franchise

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) has taken steps to ensure uninterrupted power service in the franchise of Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) amid the leadership issue in the power coop.

“BENECO is directly under NEA (National Electrification Administration) but the DOE is watching the development and making sure there will be no interruption in service,” DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi told ANC’s Headstart.

Cusi said the issue began when NEA selected a new general manager to run BENECO, who was opposed by the previous officer-in-charge and board of directors of the power coop.

However, the DOE chief called on member consumers to let the new GM assume and work to address problems and to improve the service to the people.

“That (BENECO) has to operate normally. We want to ensure that there will be no disruption in operation, and we don’t want abuses on both sides,” Cusi said.

It can be recalled that the BENECO board of directors appointed Engr. Melchor Licoben as the new GM after the retirement of its former GM, the late Gerry Verzosa.

In July, the NEA issued a resolution appointing Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) assistant secretary Anna Marie Rafael as BENECO’s GM.

BENECO’s board of directors and the member-consumer-owners then rejected her appointment through a resolution approved and ratified during the general assembly.

PHILRECA said the resolution adopted by the House of Representatives revealed that Rafael did not meet the qualifications for an electric cooperative (EC) general manager.

On Oct. 18, police officers led by the NEA entered BENECO’s headquarters at 2:40 am, which PHILRECA strongly condemned.

“Without showing any court order, the armed policemen forced open locked doors and allegedly started confiscating computers without permission from the management. Legitimate BENECO employees who wanted to clarify what was happening were barred from entering the premises for no reason. The police even prevented employees from documenting what was happening in the building,” PHILRECA said.

PHILRECA said member-consumer-owners organized a peaceful rally at BENECO to protest NEA’s takeover of the EC.

It said the protesters are demanding that Rafael Mayo, and other NEA representatives leave the premises of BENECO offices.

“NEA has no power to take over the management of BENECO, unless they consider and can prove that BENECO is an ailing cooperative. On the contrary, BENECO has been a model of excellent operation and brilliant service to its member-consumer-owners,” PHILRECA said.