Yt Framework

National Electrification Administration-designated project manager and acting general manager for Zamboanga City Electrictic Cooperative (Zamcelco) has been ousted by the cooperative's Board of Directors due to loss of trust and confidence.

In a meeting Wednesday night, the Zamcelco board members approved a Resolution No. 66, series of 2012, “strongly requesting the NEA to recall the designation of Engr. Jesus Castro as Project Supervisor and Acting General Manager".

The resolution, authored by Zamcelco Director/Secretary Omar Sahi and
and approved by majority of the Board presided over by Zamcelco President Elbert “Bong” Atilano, cited the irregularities allegedly committed by Castro.

During the Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA) a month ago, Atilano who was then the vice president of Zamcelco Board now president, also reported the alleged irregularities to the Cooperative's members.

These alleged irregularities have to do with the Sitio Electrification Programs, the Task Force created by the Office of PS/AGM, the hiring and appointment of employees and many others.

The Board members said that several sitios in the barangays under the electrification programs, reported as completed, were not energized and worse, the projects undertaken one or two years ago were still included in the 36 sitios electrification program, which is the flagship program of President Aquino.

They alleged that the task force, supposedly to check suspected meters or individuals doing illegal activity such as asking money from the concerned consumers in exchange of fixing results of inspection, was discovered to be the one doing the unlawful acts.

According to them, Castro allegedly promoted the leader of the said Task Force despite the guidelines of 201 file records of the employee whose promotion was done without the confirmation of the Board.

Castro also hired and appointed fifteen employees, where only one got the confirmation of the Board and of the appointments, and 4 were necessary while 10 employees were hired for accommodation only without the confirmation of the Board as stipulated in the Policy for Hiring and Promotion.

Based on the records, they said that the Office of the PS/AGM has not been prudent in the expenditures for foods, gasoline and other incidental expenses that were charged to the said office which is being considered as exorbitant despite of the Coop’s recovering from a huge deficit in contrast to the expenses for materials badly needed for the maintenance and operation.

The Board's resolution also stated, in most occasions when the Board questioned the actions of Castro, he always replied: “I’m over and above the Board and that I am NEA." It also said that the 52 board resolutions given to him for NEA’s information, reference and approval were never submitted to NEA.

The resolution extended the designation of Charito Mabitazan as the officer-In-Charge (OIC) of Zamcelco until such time the Board will designate an OIC for Zamcelco. It also extended the designation of Engr. Federico Villar as the NEA technical Assistant for Zamcelco.

The Board also requested NEA to conduct a Comprehensive Management and Financial Audit of Zamcelco from the time PS/AGM Castro assumed office up to present as the Board has loss trust and confidence in Castro’s capacity and integrity to effectively manage the cooperative.

“This is the clamor of the employees as Castro gave only 20% trust and confidence (before filing leave of absence) to the rank-and-file which led to demoralization of personnel,” Sahi said.

Meanwhile, NEA-Manila Director Milagros Quinajon announced before the Board that Dr. Efren Wee is the new NEA Representative to Zamcelco which was approved by NEA Administrator Edita Bueno dated July 16, 2012.

The Multi-Sectoral Group for Better Zamcelco (MGBZ) had earlier wrote a letter to DOE Secretary Jose Rene Almendras dated May 15, 2012, endorsing the appointment of Dr. Wee.

Wee’s function as NEA Observer/Representative includes his attendance to the coop Board meetings, hisd advisory to the coop Board of Directors during meetings to ensure a high level, more productive and harmonious conduct of meetings and submission of regular reports to the Administrator as well as execution of other functions as determined by NEA.

“It will add ingredients to the Board for a healthy discussion that we’ll be guided by Dr. Wee,” Zamcelco President Elbert “Bong” Atilano said during the recent board meeting.

By Monch L. Follosco