Juan named ERC chair after surprise Dimalanta resignation
President Marcos has named lawyer Francisco Saturnino Juan as the new chair of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), days after Monalisa Dimalanta resigned from the position.
Stakeholders in the energy sector welcomed that immediate appointment and how it would avert a leadership vacuum in the ERC. Dimalanta’s decision caught the industry by surprise as it cut short her stint in what was supposed to be a fixed, seven-year term ending in 2029.
One consumer interest group said it was taking the President’s selection of Juan as a sign that he was finally acknowledging the longtime hardship of Filipinos “unjustly paying for expensive electricity.”
Palace press officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro on Thursday said the President had accepted Dimalanta’s “irrevocable resignation,” which would take effect on Aug. 8.
“We extend our deepest gratitude for her dedicated service to the Commission and to the Filipino people. We wish her continued success as she returns to private practice,” Castro said of Dimalanta, who took over the ERC chairmanship in 2022.
Key role in WESM setup
Juan, the incoming chair, currently serves as president of the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines.
He previously held key positions in the ERC, including as executive director and general counsel.
He played a key role in establishing the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and has been an advocate of consumer protection and renewable energy development through tariff reforms.
“With his deep institutionalized knowledge and leadership, we are confident that Chairperson Juan will stir the ERC toward more efficient, transparent and pro-consumer decision-making. We look forward to a smooth and seamless transition under his chairmanship,” Castro said.
2 new commissioners
President Marcos also appointed Amante Liberato and Paris Real as ERC commissioners. They shall fill in the posts vacated by Commissioners Alexis Lumbatan and Catherine Maceda, who retired on July 10 after completing their seven-year terms.
Liberato is currently serving as deputy executive secretary for finance and administration at the Office of the President. He also once served with the Commission on Audit and had consultancy roles in Congress and the executive branch.
“His strong background in fiscal management and regulatory policy will be vital in supporting institutional reforms within the ERC,” Castro said of Liberato, who is a lawyer and certified public accountant.
Real is described by the Palace as seasoned litigator and legal adviser with more than two decades of experience, citing his participation in ERC regulatory proceedings.
“Together, these appointments reflect the President’s commitment to energizing the ERC with leaders who uphold integrity, transparency and public service. We look forward to the reforms and progress they will help bring under Bagong Pilipinas,” Castro said.
The terms of the two remaining ERC commissioners, Floresinda Baldo-Digal and Marko Romeo Lizada Fuentes, both end in 2027.
‘Critical time’ for sector
In a statement on Thursday, Power for People (P4P) Coalition convener Gerry Arances said the group “welcomed the expeditious appointment” of Juan as new ERC chief.
“We hope this is an indication that he (President Marcos) is starting to finally acknowledge the problem that has been staring him at his face since the start of his term: that consumers are unjustly paying for expensive electricity,” Arances said.
Manny Rubio, president and chief executive officer at Meralco PowerGen Corp., said Juan’s “appointment comes at a critical time, as the industry continues to navigate the demands of the energy transition while safeguarding affordability and reliability.”
The Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, Inc. also expressed its support for Juan, “confident that [he] will continue to pave the way for energy modernization, promoting regulation that is best for all sectors to ensure energy security, reliability, and efficiency.”
Theresa Cruz-Capellan, founder and chair of the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance, also thanked the President for selecting Juan, saying this “ensures minimum disruption on the critical work pending before the Commission.”
When ‘rocks collide’
In a TV interview on Wednesday, a day before Juan’s appointment was announced, Dimalanta said stakeholders should closely monitor the next decisions to be made in the ERC, as these will reveal which groups are being favored.
This was when she was asked of her views on the perception that players in the power sector want their own proxies—“bata”—appointed in the commission to advance their interests.
She said it was no secret that “many giant rocks collide” in the ERC, with consumer interest often caught in between.
“It’s just unfortunate that we’ve been doing really well over the last three years. But there are things that are beyond our control,” she said on ANC.
