Petilla for the Senate?

9 May 2015

We heard that Sec. Petilla is preparing to run for the Senate and will file this coming October. Our initial reaction when we first heard he was resigning was indeed he is getting ready to run. Subsequently many intriguing speculations came out as to why so early and why the reason given was cryptic.

If he is, Sec. Petilla has demonstrated the intellectual depth and political savvy at the Department of Energy in dealing with the complex dynamics of the power sector and he becoming Senator will immensely improve the understanding of that august body of the many intricacies of the power sector than can help addressing the problems and the aching reforms needed.

MSK is disappointed that the movement for power cost reduction was not given more impetus after so much hope was given. That the Department of Energy continued to “grant” renewable energy entitlements to favorable FIT rates, specially solar, instead of subjecting them to bidding and having the chance to reduce the consumer subsidy for RE. But then maybe this is endemic of the DOE revolving door and the daunting challenge in reforming a sector where several 900Lb gorillas lord over the landscape. So much to do in the so little time that these Energy Secretaries stay on the job.

To be fair, at the Department of Energy, Petilla certainly took many bold steps even in sacred alleys that showed that this guy gets it and can have the courage to work for the greater good. He and his team grasped what ailed the WESM and on regional basis adeptly caused political compromises to power solutions. Mindanaoans are apparently happy. We repeat, his “Dasap” initiative to subject power generation contracts to competitive bidding is prescient and bold.

The consumers lament is that many of these hopeful solutions will fizzle with him leaving so early. The bright side is maybe thei Senate can be a better platform for Sec. Carlos Jericho Petilla to push for the kind of welcome reforms that will correct the industry.

If Secretary Petilla is really running for the Senate, electric consumers should be rallying behind him for this is one person who understands their flight and who will most likely help create the remedial laws for reform.

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