The Freedom from Debt Coalition-Negros yesterday scored anew the Board of Directors and the OIC-general manager of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative for allegedly misusing P14 million that came from CENECO's five percent Reinvestment Fund.

The group said at its press conference at the Negros Press Club building in Bacolod City that the contract CENECO awarded to Power Star Inc. for the supply, delivery and installation of its 30 MVA substation at Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City did not conform to the recommendation of the Pre-Qualifications Bids and Awards Committee.

They added that, aside from the inadequate procedural requirements, the National Electrification Administration also vehemently disapproved the awarding of contract to Power Star Inc. as stated in its letter dated Jan. 2, 2006.

They said that the chief of CENECO's Internal Audit Division asked the OIC-general manager Noriel Bermudez to attach documents to support payment to Power Star Inc. of P14,905,959.29 but Bermudez ignored the request as shown in his handwritten note.

FCD-Negros also said in its press statement that the CENECO management had a luxury car worth P1.3 million delivered despite the fact that CENECO incurred penalties on its delayed payment to its power supplier and that there is a lull in the disbursement of the payrolls of its workers.

Until yesterday, the group said not a single structure has been constructed of the two 30 MVA Substations even after Bermudez and CENECO president Ed Guillem paid the supplier.

They assailed the CENECO officials for what they say is a blatant misuse of people's money in the guise of development.*

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