BAGUIO CITY – Concerned employees of the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) will continue holding their daily vigils after office hours as a sign of protest against the decision of the National Electrification Administration – Board of Administrators (NEA-BOA) on the position of general manager of one of the country’s top performing electric cooperatives.
Jefferd Monang, president of the Beneco Employees Labor Union (BELU), stated that the daily vigils had been going on since May 5, 2021 to date to show to the higher authorities that they do not agree to the questionable process that had been undertaken by the BOA in the selection of the next Beneco general manager.
He pointed out that the decision of the BOA as enshrined in Resolution RB 2021-47 that endorse the applicant that garnered the highest score in the final interview to the Beneco Board of Directors for appointment to the position of general manager is a clear violation of the regulations that had been crafted by the NEA that provided that the BOA should endorse to the Beneco board the list of qualified applicants who passed the final interview that include the pertinent information and results of the background information for perusal and selection of the general manager.
Monang emphasized that Beneco officials and employees are united in sending the clear message to the BOA members that as respected government officials occupying sensitive positions, they must know to adhere to the very rules that they crafted in the selection and appointment of the general managers of electric cooperatives as the position calls for worthy experience, knowledge of the complex power industry, passion to serve and dedication to a 24-hour job.
The labor union official expressed his gratitude to the officials and employees who were able to sustain their active participation to the daily vigils and the future conduct of the same because it seems that the unsettled leadership crisis in the electric cooperative will drag on in the coming months.
According to him, the BOA should also respect the decision of the Beneco Board of Directors in rejecting Resolution RB No. 2021-47 and reiterating the previous appointment that it made for Engr. Melchor S. Licoben as the permanent Beneco general manager contained in Resolution No. 2020-090.
Monang stipulated that even the members of the House committee on energy were convinced that the NEA-BOA members erred in coming out with the questioned resolution that is why the same should serve as a wakeup call for them to reconsider their decision on the matter and adhere to the processes that had been provided in their guidelines instead of circumventing the same jus to suit their personal and other interests.
He asserted that Beneco officials and employees have nothing personal against one of the aspirants for the position of general manager but what they want is for the NEA-BOA to adhere to the very rules that they crafted for the said purpose and not to blatantly violate the same for their own interests or the interests of other parties. By HENT
