By Sheldeen Joy Talavera, Reporter
PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., appointed former lawmaker Sharon S. Garin as his energy chief and veteran journalist Dave Gomez as his new communications secretary, the Palace confirmed on Thursday.
“We are pleased to announce that President Marcos has appointed Mr. Dave Gomez as Secretary of the Presidential Communications Office, and Atty. Sharon S. Garin as Secretary of the Department of Energy (DoE),” said Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro in a news briefing.
Ms. Garin has been serving as energy officer-in-charge since June 16.
“Secretary Garin is a lawyer and certified public accountant, with extensive public service experience, having served as a multi-term Iloilo representative and DoE undersecretary with a strong background in energy policy and legislation to advance accessible, reliable and sustainable energy for our people,” Ms. Castro said.
Her appointment is expected to continue the momentum of her predecessors given her experience as an undersecretary.
“Given the threat of high oil prices, an insider is in the best position to lead the country in weathering the turbulent situation,” Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance Chairman Ma. Theresa Cruz-Capellan told BusinessWorld.
“Her three years stint gave her deep knowledge about the industry, close working relationship with stakeholders, and political capital with the legislature,” she added.
For the upstream oil and gas industry, the appointment of an Energy chief is crucial amid the Philippines’ pursuit for greater indigenous energy independence.
“Newly appointed DoE Secretary Sharon Garin will build on the previous administration’s momentum, accelerating energy projects and upstream oil and gas development,” Philippine Petroleum Association Edgar Benedict C. Cutiongco said.
Ms. Garin is a certified public account with a strong background in public service, legislation, and energy policy.
She was appointed as a DoE undersecretary in 2022, where she led key leadership portfolio as chairperson of the Nuclear Energy Program Coordinating Committee, Financial and Legal Services and served as the department’s legislative liaison.
Prior to this, she served in the House of Representative from 2010 to 2022 under AAMBIS-Owa Partylist.
She replaces Raphael P.M. Lotilla as the Energy secretary after he was tapped to lead the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“I think the appointment of Secretary Garin eases any anxiety that the changes in DoE leadership will cause unnecessary disruption,” said Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa C. Dimalanta. “She is already very familiar with the sectors and the issues, I trust she already has her priorities in line.”
Ms. Dimalanta said that the new Energy chief can count on ERC working in step with the department as they have done over the last three years.
Energy consumer advocacy group Power for People Coalition (P4P) is hoping for the DoE secretary to prioritize issues on “high price of electricity, the lack of accountability of power companies for their billing practices, and the transition to renewable energy.”
“We will remain, as always, vigilant in protecting the interests of energy consumers. It is our wish that the DoE would do the same,” P4P Convenor Gerry C. Arances said in a statement.
5TH PCO SECRETARYMeanwhile, Mr. Gomez will replace former broadcaster Jaybee C. Ruiz, who was appointed in February this year.
Mr. Gomez was a senior reporter for The Philippine STAR, director general of the Philippine Information Agency, and a communications director for PMFTC, Inc the Philippine affiliate of Philip Morris International.
“We look forward to their leadership as we strengthen government communications and secure our country’s energy needs,” said Ms. Castro. He is Mr. Marcos’ fifth Presidential Communications Office (PCO) secretary.
Mr. Ruiz will be a member of the Board of Directors of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, which serves as the Philippines’ representative office in Taiwan.
In a statement, he thanked the President for his trust despite the short stint. “My almost five months as PCO Secretary have been a profound learning experience,” he added. — with Chloe Mari A. Hufana
