Benguet electric coop faces raps over street light project

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines – A complaint has been filed against the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) for allegedly reneging on a contract for a streetlight project in Baguio City and this town. 

Officials of the La Trinidad municipal government filed a complaint for breach of contract and a motion for issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction.

Beneco entered into a contract with the local governments of Baguio and La Trinidad in 2007 to provide materials and labor for the maintenance of streetlights in their areas.

 There are 8,701 streetlights in Baguio and 1,878 in this town.

Beneco’s maintenance of the streetlights stopped in this town in May and in February in Baguio.

Beneco assistant general manager Melchor Licoben wrote La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda last year  saying  the municipal government should shoulder the cost of maintenance of streetlights, claiming the terms of the contract are no longer feasible for the cooperative.