After a controversy that beset the Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC), the PPUC Board of Directors had elected new set of officers during its annual meeting held on July 18.
According to a statement sent by PPUC to Island Times, Greg Decherong was elected as the new PPUC Chairman via unanimous votes, along with Ngiratmetuchel R. Belechel, who was elected as Vice Chairman and Nadja T. Benhart as the new Board Executive Secretary.
Decherong is also the current Executive Officer of the Palau Energy Administration (PEA).
The day after the election, Decherong had then met with the PPUC Department Managers and heads and ask their support while the PPUC Board of Directors continue their work in seeking and hiring a new Chief Executive Officer who will be tasked to manage PPUC’s daily affairs.
Island Times would like to clarify that PPUC had not yet hired a CEO as opposed to what was previously reported.
PPUC had been put on the spotlight after its former Chairman of the Board, Sam Masang, had been called out for alleged ethics violations.
Masang was previously asked by the Senate to resign from his chairmanship after it was allegedly found out that PPUC’s Audited Financial reports for 2016, particularly the reports until September 30 of the same year, revealed that the PPUC had transacted with the Palau telecoms, a company owned by Masang, for communications services amounting $54,500 and $21,250 for the years 2015 and 2016.
In our previous report, Masang defended through a letter that Palau Telecoms’ transaction with PPUC was lawful and had went through proper procedure. (Rhealyn C. Pojas)