THE Utilities Consumers Alliance of Negros (UCAN) said it should be the Board of Directors of Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) who will pay the monthly salary of dismissed and recently reinstated general manager Sulpicio Lagarde Jr.
UCAN legal counsel Vicente Petierre III said they should not pass on such financial burden to the Ceneco consumers.
The Ceneco Board had earlier decided to reinstate Lagarde in payroll only, and pay his salary of more or less P80,000 per month.
This came after the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) Regional Arbitration Branch VI in Bacolod City decided in favor of Lagarde when he questioned his dismissal effected on November 27, 2014.
With such favorable decision, Ceneco was directed to reinstate Lagarde upon receipt of the order.
Petierre said, “If the decision of NLRC is to pay the back wages and other claims of Mr. Lagarde, so be it. But it should not be the cooperative or the member-consumers who will pay for it, but the Board of Directors.”
The UCAN lawyer added: “We also have no quarrel on the reinstatement in payroll only as it is more acceptable to the union that way. The system's loss was reduced to 12.29 percent (at present) from 16 percent during the incumbency of Lagarde. If we quantify it in peso, that is a savings of more or less P7 million a month.”
He also noted that the employees said there is now “a harmonious relationship and high morale among employees between mid-level management and rank-and-file."
The Board has appointed Chuchie Destriza as acting general manager after they dismissed Lagarde.
Ceneco president Arnel Lapore had earlier said that majority of the Board voted to appeal the case with NLRC and that they will reinstate Lagarde in the payroll, but there will be no physical reinstatement as they are already satisfied with the performance of Destriza.
According to Lapore, Destriza is discharging her function in an acting capacity thus the salary of a permanent general manager of P80,000 a month remains untouched. (CNC)