A year and 10 months into the job, Energy Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras finds himself wishing that he had “made more noise.”
Almendras is convinced that a way lot more could have been done to improve the country’s power-supply situation, particularly in Mindanao, if only he was able to draw the attention of the public and other stakeholders to the need to push for significant change.
He, nevertheless, believes that he has, so far, done his rightful share.
From the day he assumed office in 2010, Almendras said he had pursued a clean-up drive by reviewing and weeding out what was concluded as anomalous power contracts.
He said he drafted a reform agenda that outlined the direction for the Philippine energy sector over the next 20 years, along with other policies and reforms aimed at overhauling a debt-saddled sector.
In addition, he went to lawmakers, forums and stakeholders to voice out his own findings, explaining what he thought needed to be done and corrected.
Since then, Almendras has been trying to find the correct energy mix—which means getting the right combination of fuel sources that will assure the country of secure, affordable and reliable power.
“A year and 10 months into the job, I realize that I can’t play for today’s game the cards that I’m holding. As I’ve said, it’s a nightmare for any energy minister to come up with the right energy mix, which will be realized five or 10 years from now,” he said on Wednesday night in a briefing for Inquirer editors, columnists and reporters.
The country’s power supply problems, however, remain and on some fronts, even continue to worsen.
Maybe energy is simply not sexy, mused Almendras, noting the lack of attention accorded to the real problems behind the energy sector.
“And maybe it’s my personality. I’m boring. In my whole lifetime, it’s just all about doing the best you can and never mind what happens and that maybe went against me. I really should have made more noise,” Almendras said.
Giving what-if scenarios, the energy chief still believed that he could have done something more to avert the power supply woes in Mindanao, except that many factors seem to be working against him.
“I should have found a way to solve the Iligan problem so that the facility could have provided 100 megawatts for Mindanao. Lawyers tell me there’s nothing I can do, but I think I could have done something if I pursued it,” he said.
“I wish there was a way we could have gotten those electric cooperatives to sign the power-supply contracts because there was available generation then of as much as 200 MW but was not being used because no one was buying,” he added.
This is why despite the numerous efforts at solving the Herculean task of providing adequate energy supply, Almendras continues to own up to the blame and to the failure.
“I am not blameless. We had a plan and my failure was in executing the plan. I can say yes, we were lacking on some respects, particularly in implementation … I tried, but (the issues and the solutions) are not all within our powers. I’m not saying we’re blameless, I’m responsible—I even offered to step down,” Almendras said.
And this is a proposition a number of quarters would more than welcome—particularly those who have made various allegations regarding the energy chief’s ties to the Aboitizes and Ayalas before his stint at the Department of Energy.
“People seem to have forgotten that my first order in 2010 resulted in a revenue reduction of almost P400 million for the Aboitiz group over the use of ancillary services in Mindanao,” he said.
“I cannot evade that perception with my previous connections with them. The best for me is to get out of this job. But definitely, I can face anybody in the eye and say I have not done anything that will favor anyone,” he said.
“So please sign the petition to kick me out of this job,” Almendras said, apparently joking.
It has been no secret that Almendras has been itching to get out of the job, had President Aquino not prevailed on him to stay on amid calls for the energy chief’s resignation.
During the first few months after assuming office, Almendras said he would be staying for only two years, in consideration of his family.
“I’m ready and willing to get out of this job. I did not volunteer for this job. I have no plans of staying on this job forever,” he would often tell reporters. He reiterated it during the Inquirer roundtable.
But still, he has no regrets in accepting the position of energy secretary. “It’s a decision I made to help the country and I have to pay for it,” he said.