“I therefore call for Mr. Emmanuel P. Juaneza’s immediate resignation in the interest of electric cooperatives, the member consumer-owners, and the preservation of the legacy of the Rural Electrification Program. Mr. Emmanuel P Juaneza, I urge you to THROW IN THETOWEL, you have done enough already,” De Jesus said at a virtual press conference on the “Continuing Challenges and Threats Against Electric Cooperatives and other Pressing Concerns in the Energy Sector” on Monday (Feb. 14).
De Jesus said NEA issued memorandums that attempt to curtail the basic freedom and political rights of the rural electrification sector.
He cited Memorandum No. 2021-039 which he said automatically considers an Electric Cooperative (EC) employee or official as resigned effective upon their assumption of office as a Party-List representative.
Also, Memorandum No. 2021- 040 which expanded the restraint in political rights of EC employees by automatically considering nominees of a Party-List on leave of absence from the start of campaign period.
Lastly, Memorandum No. 2021-051 which prohibits officers and employees to join or participate in any partisan political activity.
The ECs filed a petition to declare the said memorandums as illegal and unconstitutional. They achieved victory after a Regional Trial Court (RTC) ruled that the NEA and NEABOA can only exercise supervisory powers and not to control over electric cooperatives, as clearly stated in PD No.269, as amended by RA No. 10531, de Jesus said.
But NEA issued more Memos which are detrimental to the ECs and member consumer owners (MCOs) De Jesus said.
Memorandum 2021-055 and Memorandum 2021-056 according to De Jesus aim to revise the “Policy on the Selection, Hiring, Termination of Service/Suspension for General Managers (GM) of Electric Cooperatives” and “Guidelines on the Conduct of Examination and Interview for Applicants,” respectively.
De Jesus said the two Memos give NEA the power to screen, select and appoint a GM of an EC, which is originally vested by law in the EC Board of Directors who represent the MCOs.
“The ECs’ right to recommend its own GM was taken away from them and with the significant reduction in the qualifications of GM applicants, what will now happen to the ECs? A puppet and a rubber stamp for NEA? Is NEA trying to cripple the Electric Cooperatives? How can they find a good captain of their ship, if the qualification, experiences, and the other requirements being asked for are equivalent to the requirement for an entry level position?.” De Jesus said.
De Jesus said there are allegedly more “tactics” initiated by NEA to cripple the ECs and MCOs which is against the rule of law on rural electrification.
Thus, De Jesus called on rural electrification advocates to rally behind their cause and help them fight what he described as “harassment and injustice” by NEA which he said is mandated by law to protect the ECs and MCOs.
PHILRECA is the national organization of 121 ECs operating nationwide.
PHILRECA)Party-List Representative Presley C. De Jesus speaks during Monday's virtual press conference.