DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla (Screenshot from Senate livestream)
MANILA, Phillippines — Third time’s really a charm for Raphael Lotilla, whose designation as secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) was finally approved on Wednesday by the legislative Commission on Appointments (CA) after facing the bicameral body thrice.
“Secretary Lotilla is one of the best legal minds around with a vast experience in energy policy formulation and regulation,” Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda said in endorsing his appointment during the CA plenary deliberations.
“He is a man of high integrity and a true professional,” she said. “Up until now, we see him as a very simple man with no taint of corruption issues.”
In supporting Lotilla’s appointment, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the energy secretary’s “credibility and integrity are beyond reproach” as he had previously worked with him when the senator was still a Bukidnon representative.
Zubiri, who chairs the CA, also spoke highly of Ivan John Uy, describing him as “a qualified and experienced public servant” who deserved to lead the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).On the other hand, he reminded the diplomats and officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs that they were the “face of our country in all your posts abroad.”
“Please make us proud and help promote our nation. I hope you can get more tourists to come and more investors to invest in our country,” Zubiri said.
This will be Lotilla’s second stint in the DOE after serving in the same capacity from 2015 to 2017 during the time of then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The Makati Business Club (MBC) on Wednesday also expressed support for the confirmation of Lotilla, making it the second major business organization to give its backing to the energy secretary.
“Secretary Lotilla’s confirmation strengthens the government’s ongoing efforts to build up a transparent, competitive and performance-based energy industry. Energy policy is always subject to strong economic, political, and other headwinds,” said MBC executive director Francisco Alcuaz Jr.
“Secretary Lotilla’s confirmation helps ensure we pursue policies that can help avert blackouts, control energy prices, and ramp up supply to attract investments and create jobs,” he added.
In September, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) expressed the same support for Lotilla.
This was amid a string of power outages during that time and growing calls from the private sector to lower electricity costs in the country.
MAP highlighted Lotilla’s credentials and length of service in the government.
Besides Lotilla, the CA also confirmed the ad interim appointments of Secretary Renato Solidum of the Department of Science and Technology and Secretary Uy of the DICT.
Also confirmed was the designation of 60 ambassadors and diplomats, among them former Foreign Secretary and now Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr., Arroyo’s daughter, Philippine Ambassador to Austria Luli Arroyo-Bernas, and Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz.
On the other hand, Trade and Industry Secretary Jaime Bautista failed to hurdle the CA’s scrutiny as several lawmakers had more questions about the policies and projects he intends to pursue.