Petilla to stay on as DOE chief until Palace finds replacement

Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla is staying on as the top official at the Department of Energy until Malacañang finds his replacement, the Cabinet official said on Tuesday.

 

In an interview with GMA News, Petilla said he discussed with President Benigno Aquino III on Monday his resignation as Energy chief.

 

The President tried to stop him, but Petilla said he is keen on leaving the Energy Department.

 

Instead, Aquino asked him to extend his term for some time until the President comes up with the next Energy secretary.

 

"Irrevocable 'yun... That's pushing through, pero mahirap namang i-abandon natin ang isang puwesto na wala pang kapalit," Petilla said.

 

"The President knows for a fact that this is not... hindi ito as if it can be delayed until forever. He recognizes it," Petilla added.

 

Because he plans on running in May 2016 Elections, Petilla must vacate his post on or before October 2015.

 

As to which elected position, he said he will decide when the right time comes.

 

Possible replacements

Asked about his own pick to replace him, the Cabinet official was quite vocal in pushing for Energy Undersecretary Zenaida Monsada as officer-in-charge when he leaves the post.

 

"I want someone within the DOE, the likes of Usec. Monsada," he said.

 

The next DOE chief has merely over a year to sit as Energy secretary that Petilla wants someone who will simply continue what he has been doing at the department.

 

"The person who will actually take this position will have to take a pay cut... will be an Energy secretary only for a year, and then two years siyang banned from being employed by any energy company. So it's a big sacrifice," he said.

 

Outside the department Petilla has no particular person in mind for the position, leaving the decision up to Malacañang.

 

Other potential replacements are former Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and National Transmission Corporation or Transco President Roland Bacani.

 

"I've heard na kino-consider din sila... Balita ko lang din ito," Petilla noted.

 

With only over a year in office, the replacement may find it hard to set new policies in place, the Energy chief said.

 

Among the unfinished business at the department are the roadmap for ailing electric cooperatives, guidelines for the feed-in tariff rate and policies on mandatory open access – precisely why Petilla wants someone from with the department.

 

Petilla is hoping whoever replaces him has no vested interest behind the position.

 

Brownout-free Luzon 

 

Power supply in Luzon remains adequate until the end of summer, which means the main island is brownout-free.

 

"Hindi ako aalis na ang Luzon hindi lulusot ngayong summer. Safe na ang region hanggang matapos ang tag-init," Petilla noted. 

 

May is supposed to be a crucial month in terms of power supply as demand to cool off the summer heat continues to rise, according to an earlier DOE forecast.

 

But weather conditions are unexpectedly shifting. 

 

The dry season has started, but isolated rain showers and thunderstorms are being experienced in most parts of Luzon.

 

Power demand in Luzon still stands at 8600 megawatts (MW), or still below the projected 9000 MW peak demand.

 

The department continues to encourage the practice of energy efficiency and conservation among consumers. – VS, GMA News