Newly-appointed Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta resigned from her post as the compliance officer of Aboitiz Power Corp.
Aboitiz Power announced the resignation of Dimalanta due to her “nomination and appointment to government position.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Dimalanta as ERC chair in place of Agnes Devanadera.
Dimalanta will serve for seven years or until July 10, 2029. She served as chairperson of the National Renewable Energy Board from 2019 to 2021.
Renewable energy groups welcomed Dimalanta’s appointment.
“The Philippine Solar Alliance welcomes the appointment of Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta as chair of the ERC. Her track record in NREB bares the type of governance she will promote in this critical regulatory body—professional and with integrity,” said PSSEA chairperson Tetchi Capellan.
Capellan said her appointment affirms the president’s pronouncement on pushing renewable projects. “Dimalanta rolled out all the implementing rules spelled by the RE Law. She made sure the ecosystem of renewables is set so the developers and market participants can create the infrastructure for clean energy,” Capellan said.
Developers of Renewable Energy for AdvanceMent Inc. president Jay Layug said they were also supporting Dimalanta’s appointment.
“We look forward to working with her on addressing all pertinent issues relating to the RE sector as we are certain that she has a great understanding of the industry, having served also as former NREB chairman,” Layug said.
The Power for People Coalition, however, expressed concern over the appointment of Dimalanta.
“Yet again, we see another appointment tainted with the interest of private companies. In the midst of unceasing electricity price hikes and inflation, it seems that consumer welfare has been once again neglected. We long for the day when the ERC is represented by someone completely devoid of any ties to a private entity such as Aboitiz, which is involved in supplying dirty and expensive sources of energy with their seven coal plants,” said P4P Convenor Gerry Arances.
