BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio districts of the Multi-Sectoral Advisory Committee (MSEAC) of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) formally reorganized their compositions to allow the involvement of various sectors in the organization that will help in providing guidance to the implementation of the programs, projects and activities of the rural electric cooperative.
Earlier, the National electrification Administration (NEA) mandated electric cooperatives to organize MSEACs within their franchise areas to help strengthen the role of ECs member-consumers-owners as important players in the rural electrification program of the government under the changes and challenges of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) environment.
Further, the MSEAC was created to serve as effective compliment in the institutional strengthening of the ECs by providing the network for active participation and solidarity of member-consumer-owners.
Previously, the MSEAC was utilized as information channels for the widespread dissemination of EC programs and polices and served as effective catalysts in harnessing member-consumer-owners efforts in support of activities contributory to improvement of operations.
Among the identified functions or areas of concern of the MSEAC include policy formulation, campaign for improvement of collection, campaign for non-pilferage of electricity, membership information and education program, membership meetings, campaign for energy conservation and safety measures, representative of member-consumers-owners in Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) or Collective Negotiation Agreement (CAN) negotiations and other service-oriented activities.
However, ECs have to effectively cope with new tasks and higher standards of performance brought about by the realities on laws mandating reforms in the management and overall operations of the ECs, power industry has become even more complexed, regulators are imposing stringent compliances, power generators are becoming more cautious and discriminatory in their choice of patrons, technology is developing at a high speed which may lead to obsolescence and member-consumers-owners are demanding for more efficient electric services.
The MSEACs of the six districts of Baguio City reconstituted their existing officers and members by providing for alternates in all the sectors represented in the said committees to guarantee that most of the sectors will be given the needed representation in the groups that corresponds to the number of districts being represented by members of the Board of Directors.
MSEAC members meet regularly to update themselves on the latest programs, projects and activities that require their active participation for the betterment of the BENECO in terms of attending to the urgent needs of member-consumer-owners who usually seek their assistance.
BENECO management urged MSEAC officers and members to continue closely working with the electric cooperative in the realization of its primary objective of bringing quality power to the consumers through its established reliable systems.
By Dexter A. See
