Electric firm asked to exempt LGUs from penalties

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Provincial officials are pushing for the exemption of barangay local government units (LGUs) from penalties and surcharges imposed on the delay of payment of electric bills.

The Provincial Board passed a measure requesting the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) to exempt the barangays in the province from the penalties or surcharges being imposed on the delays in the payment of electric bills.

Beneco was granted by the National Electrification Commission as the sole franchise to operate an electric light and power service in the City of Baguio and Benguet province.

As premised, the necessary expenses of these barangay units are often delayed mostly because of the time required in accomplishing documents to support their financial and other obligations.

Due to such situation, accordingly payments of local bills and obligations are delayed in spite of the diligence of the barangay authorities to settle the matter in due time.

Another reason is that the barangay government rely on their respective Municipal Governments for the release of pertinent documents for the processing of transactions and release of funds.

The imposition of penalties and surcharges to delayed payment of bills puts the barangay units in bad light, according to the officials.

It further complicates the processing of payments resulting from the constant changes of numbers or figures which still undergo the required pre-auditing and other accounting procedures.

Granting the exemption from penalties and surcharges imposed by Beneco will also greatly relieve the barangay LGUS much financial burden and bureaucracy, the officials said. (Susan Aro)