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| Vol. XX No. 45 |
January 17, 2001 |
Virac, Catanduanes |
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The Catanduanes Tribune Rawis, Virac Catanduanes, Philippines - 5001 Tel. No.: (052) 811-1267 or 811-2640 Fax No.: (052) 811-1267 E-mail:
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Publisher-Editor Edwin A. Gianan |
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Advertising- Circulation Manager Simeon G. Cueno |
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Web Master: Calgary, Canada |
Headline News
NEA
wants FICELCO to reopen GM search
- dangles P20-M incentive
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has asked the First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) to reopen the search for a new general manager, reportedly offering a P20-million loan in exchange for the appointment of a "trusted" GM.
Last Saturday, the FICELCO board of directors met to consider a radio message sent by Director Alice Mercado of the NEA's Cooperative Development Department requesting the board's nod in reopening the selection and appointment process.
Sources say the message told the co-op that NEA needs "a board resolution to reopen the process so as to have a wider selection base from which the board will appoint the next regular GM."
A reliable source said the board, aghast at NEA's apparent bid to disrupt a search that has gone down to two qualified applicants, will write NEA to ask for a clarification of its request.
The source also said that its president, David Z. Santelices of San Andres, and three board members - directors Ranulfo Tulay of Bato, Jesus Tapel of San Miguel and Danilo Tubianosa of Viga - were summoned to Naga City the other week by NEA Administrator Manuel Luis Sanchez. It was alleged that Sanchez told the four FICELCO officials that he will commit P20-million in loans to the cooperative provided it appoints a general manager “trusted” by NEA.
Sanchez's intervention comes at a crucial time for the two remaining aspirants - Engr. Raul Zafe and current co-op officer-in-charge Engr. Carlos T. Gianan III. The duo have been required by the FICELCO board to submit their respective Action Plans which will be used as the basis for their appointment.
Before Christmas last year, representatives of the NEA's coop division conducted an exhaustive background investigation of Zafe and Gianan, interviewing their neighbors, friends, relatives and co-workers. Under normal procedure, NEA will submit the results of the investigation to the co-op board, which will then select and appoint the new regular general manager to replace Engr, Segundo G. Gianan, Jr. who has migrated to the United States. The board will then transmit its appointment to NEA for confirmation.
Sources say that an original 15 applied for the vacancy last October but first-stage screening trimmed this down to nine, including former Vice Governor Teofisto I. Verceles. The veteran politician, however, was disqualified because of his age and the field was further reduced to two after a panel interview.
As a result, the board was already expecting the appointment of either one of the remaining applicants based on their Action Plan to be implemented if they are appointed to the post. A source disclosed that the new GM will be on probation for six months to see if his Action Plan would work, to be extended to one year before the appointment is made permanent.
Prior to the transmission of the NEA radio message, rumors have already been floating to the effect that a close relative of Governor Hector S. Sanchez, Engr. Antonio Sanchez, will be managing the cooperative.
The NEA administrator's action has placed the co-op board in a dilemma as it needs money for its rehabilitation and expansion program but wants an experienced hand at the helm. A source has described the rest of the applicants as educationally qualified but having no capability, background or experience to handle the cooperative.
There is also the possibility that the NEA, ostensibly to protect its financial exposure to the cooperative and on the basis of the co-op's remaining P11-million debt, may suspend the current board of directors and appoint a project supervisor to manage FICELCO.
