Greens to new DOE chief: ‘Adopt the Consumer Act’

ENERGY advocacy group Power for People Coalition (P4P) has expressed some concerns over President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s personal choice to head the Department of Energy (DOE)' chief, Raphael Lotilla.

P4P even urged the soon-to-be energy head always to recognize the country’s Consumer Act and be more committed to rendering efficient service with utmost integrity and professionalism.

Earlier, P4P convenor Gerry Arances doubted Lotilla as seen the right man for the job amid various challenges facing the power sector.

Lotilla, according to Arances is currently an independent director of AboitizPower Corp., a holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation and distribution as well as retail electricity and other related services.

Arances added that Lotilla was also of ACE Enexor, which describes itself as “a publicly-listed company engaged in oil and gas exploration and production.

“Lotilla’s role potentially hurts his eligibility to serve as DOE Secretary,” said Arances.

Arances disputed Lotilla to be a real partner with the stakeholders in improving the quality of life of the Filipino, as he was the top official of companies where he sits as an independent director.

Lotilla must protect against deceptive, unfair, and unconscionable sales acts and practices, according to Arances.

Arances said the consumers’ group is concerned that given his ties to the power sector, he may not be coming in as an honest broker and is instead a “Trojan horse for corporate interests.”

The government’s basic policy is always to protect the interests of the consumer, promote his general welfare, and establish standards of conduct for business and industry, according to Arances.

“The next DOE secretary Lotilla must be pro-consumer, and should always adopt the Consumer Act of the country,” he said.

“With the final appointment still up in the air, the challenge is clear and pressing for anyone who takes this post: bring down electricity rates in the shortest time possible,” he said.

He can reverse this by picking renewable energy, and we hope he would not be like Cusi who flagrantly flouted Duterte’s policy statements on renewables,” Arances said.