Duterte names 2 new ERC Commissioners

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte reviews a document during a meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on June 22, 2020. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has named two new members of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Malacañang said Monday.

“The Palace confirms the appointment of Ms. Floresinda G. Baldo-Digal and Mr. Marko Romeo Lizada Fuentes as members of the Energy Regulatory Commission,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

Digal, the long-time ERC spokesperson, will be replacing Josefina Patricia A. Magpale-Asirit.

Prior to her appointment, Digal has been designated by Devanadera as Executive Director of the Commission. She also served as director of the Regulatory Operations Service (ROS) of the agency.

Digal has 26 years of experience in the ERC starting as a stenographer and working through to become a lawyer.

She holds a Certificate in Business Economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific. She served almost all major services in ERC.

In a statement, ERC Chairperson and CEO lawyer Agnes T. Devanadera said Digal’s appointment brings with her “a deep knowledge of the responsibilities of a regulator.”

“Her appointment will inspire the employees of ERC to work with renewed dedication and commitment as she is one of us,” Devanadera said in a statement.

On the other hand, Fuentes, a certified public accountant (CPA) from Davao City, will be replacing Paul Christian Cervantes.

Devanadera said Fuentes’ appointment will bring into the ERC the perspective of the private sector in the technical aspect of the work.

Prior to his appointment, Fuentes was the Vice-Chair of the Board of Accountancy.

There had been two vacant positions at the ERC, following the retirement of Asirit and Cervantes last July 10.

With the appointments of Digal and Fuentes, the regulatory body will already be a full Commission.

Devanadera, meanwhile, thanked Duterte for his “swift action” in filling up the vacancies with whom she described as “the best choices.”

“ERC will be further strengthened to meet the extra challenges posed by the pandemic with the appointment of the two new Commissioners,” she said.

Roque, meanwhile, wished the two new appointees the best of luck in their new assignment.

“We hope the appointment of Ms. Digal and Mr. Fuentes will promote and protect the interests of ordinary power consumers especially in this challenging time,” he said.