Almondo C. Santos, Power Plant 1 manager, said the removal of 20 non-resident workers from the plant in September 2007 has “dramatically” affected the overall operation of the power generation division.
“Units are breaking down because of the lack of personnel to address preventive maintenance inspection and proper operational supervision has been affecting the staff morale,” Santos said.
He said his division has not been able to replace vacancies caused by the removal of the 20 non-resident mechanical and electrical technicians who used to work with the plant.
He added that most of the staff left at the facility have “been overworked and [been] planning retirement, which poses a major problem that prevents them from taking any interest in the plant operations.”
The power plant manager said there is no structured training and development of the local staff at the plant.
The technical training of the current plant crew, Santos added, is not available on island.
He fears that attempts to improve personnel teamwork and self-esteem “are already too late and cannot bring about the recovery at the pace needed.”
Santos, together with some of the supervisors at the plant, are encouraging Muna to re-hire CUC’s former guest workers “as soon as possible.”
Felipe Q. Atalig’s Casa de Felipe Manpower Services used to provide CUC with a highly skilled nonresident workforce until a law was enacted that prioritizes the hiring of local residents.
Santos said CUC’s former guest workers will provide the manpower and expertise needed to improve and save the power plant from further decline.
“The action of terminating the services of the nonresident staff did not do any good for CUC or the Saipan consumers,” Santos said.
According to Senate Vice President Felix T. Mendiola, Covenant-Rota, “This letter is a cause for alarm.”
Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan, D-Saipan, however, said: “This is a biased letter. I have a problem with this letter.” She did not elaborate.
