BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio City Council has extended an invitation to Engr. Melchor Licoben, General Manager of Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO) Inc., and Steve Cating, Chairperson of the BENECO Interim Board of Directors, to its regular session on January 15, 2024.
The meeting aims to delve into persistent issues affecting the electric cooperative, particularly concerning the Man-asok Project, unliquidated cash advances, and the use of restricted funds.
The move comes two months after Licoben assumed the role of General Manager at BENECO and follows a financial and management audit conducted by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) covering the period from 2018 to 2021.
Councilor Fred Bagbagen, who initiated the invitation, emphasized three key issues to be addressed during the session.
Firstly, he seeks an update on the status and development of the Man-asok Project, a venture that was expected to result in lower electricity rates for member-consumer owners, as previously assured by BENECO officials.
The second and third issues revolve around financial matters brought to light by the NEA audit.
The report revealed “unlawful” privileges granted to former Board of Directors (BOD) members, including the granting of loans and unliquidated cash advances.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the use of BENECO’s restricted funds to pay the car loans of former BOD members.
The findings from the NEA audit resulted in the termination of all former BOD members and a 45-day suspension for Licoben, internal auditor Brenda Carling, and engineering manager Rocky Pallogan.
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