NEA doubles down against corruption in utilities

MANILA, Philippines  -The chief of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) again warned erring officials of electric cooperatives to improve their services following reports of alleged corruption among their ranks.

“Do not forget that the money you are dealing with does not belong to you, but to your MCOs (member-consumer-owners),” NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda said during a gathering of such officials held on Monday.

According to the NEA, there were “recurring complaints” that executives were allegedly “enriching themselves” at the expense of their electric cooperatives’ financial and operational viability, resulting in poor services.

READ: Power co-ops’ finances under close scrutiny

Almeda, who was appointed NEA administrator in November 2022, has long been hounding executives for supposed mismanagement of funds.

In January last year, NEA sacked several directors of the Benguet Electric Cooperative due to “long-standing irregularities” under their management.

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The 11 removed directors were likewise disqualified from being reinstated or reemployed in any electric cooperative. Their other monetary benefits were also forfeited.

The following month, NEA called on the Department of Justice to conduct a “thorough and in-depth investigation into possible criminal acts and/or other irregularities” that the directors may have also committed.

Despite this, Almeda also recognized other “responsible” executives and employees, saying that they had made key contributions to ensure proper service for consumers in the provinces. INQ