Manila Bulletin
By MYRNA M. VELASCO
June 15, 2012, 4:32pm
MANILA, Phililppines --- Energy Secretary Rene D. Almendras has forthrightly asserted to media that his much-reported transfer to the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) is not certain yet at this point although he qualified that he serves at the pleasure of the President.
“There is no certainty, this I will say,” the energy secretary stressed. Nevertheless, he indicated that there have been discussions with President Aquino on “how to make things better.” One thing certain, he said, is “I will not cling on to my position.”
While there have been reports that his replacement might be named on or before the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), it was similarly gathered that the sitting energy chief may still stay longer given some short-term solutions that he has to undertake in the sector’s problems, such as the recurring brownouts in Mindanao.
The names being floated to be his replacement include Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya and former Finance Undersecretary Emmanuel Bonoan.
There are opinions in the industry though that given the dilemmas of the sector, they cannot afford to have a new energy secretary who will be on a new “learning curve”, otherwise, nothing can be accomplished within Aquino’s term.
And whenever changes in the Department of Energy (DoE) will happen, Almendras stressed that the two undersecretaries who came with him will also have to tender their respective resignations – referring to Undersecretaries Josefina Patricia M. Asirit and Jay M. Layug.
“Everybody serves at the pleasure of the President. My team is co-terminus with me. Everybody knows that… that’s a practice that has been around for so many years now,” he stressed.
Almendras only indicated that Asirit is aware of the fact that if he will leave the department, she will also need to resign from her post.
Asked about the controversy surrounding Layug’s reported exit from the department, the energy chief has noted that he is not aware of the source of information; and that he has not received any resignation letter from him.
Despite denials from the department and Malacanang though, talks are still rife that the pink slip may still be coming Layug’s way.
“I have not received any resignation letter. Until today, I have not received any resignation letter. What I know is Usec Asirit is here, and if I have to leave the department, she’s ready to tender her resignation, she’s aware of that,” Almendras said.
If ever his successor will be named, Almendras noted he is expecting that talks will happen so they can discuss on “transition matters.” source
No comments:
Post a Comment