GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The National Electrification Administration (NEA) has appointed Nollie B. Alamillo as Executive Officer of the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOCOTECO II) following reports of financial and operational issues within the cooperative.
He replaced OIC General Manager Atty. Cherry Joie Lima-Ponce. The announcement was made by NEA Administrator Antonio Almeda during a press conference on Monday, March 30.
Alamillo, a member of the NEA Board of Administrators, was granted supervisory powers to help restore efficiency and safeguard the interests of Member-Consumer-Owners (MCOs).
His appointment was prompted by a Special Audit Report highlighting questionable practices in SOCOTECO II’s Power Supply Agreements, including the diversion of ₱59 million in remarketing revenues to the cooperative’s general fund instead of reducing consumer rates.
The audit also flagged ₱126 million in mortuary benefit disbursements from 2016 to 2024 and the outsourcing of around 600 personnel—far exceeding the cooperative’s plantilla—despite its worsening financial position. SOCOTECO II’s performance rating has already declined from AAA to B since 2024.
On March 24, the cooperative’s Board of Directors formally sought NEA’s intervention, citing deficiencies in transparency and accountability. NEA has since ordered a further audit by its Management and Consultancy Services Office (NEA-MCSO). The audit team includes three Certified Public Accountants, assisted by two engineers for technical matters.
The agency assured MCOs that decisive measures will be taken to stabilize SOCOTECO II and improve services. But concerned citizens expressed alarm over the timing of the revelations.
Prominent lawyer Rogelio “Bic-Bic” Garcia, speaking on his RMN GenSan radio program, questioned the disclosure of SOCOTECO II’s reported ₱1.8-billion deficit, confirmed by its Board of Directors.
Garcia suggested the losses might be linked to alleged plans by private firms to take over the cooperative.
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