by Myrna Velasco January 1, 2016
An official who had become the “face
and voice” of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for many years – Executive
Director Francis Saturnino Juan will step down on January 8, 2016 from the
regulatory body citing his need for “medical treatment” as the primary reason.
That was formally announced recently
to the media by ERC Chairman Jose Vicente B. Salazar, although he noted that he
will still retain Juan’s services for sometime as the Commission’s consultant.
A University of the
Philippines-educated lawyer, Juan who was also the ERC’s spokesperson for years
had fought many battles for the Commission, including the time that it was
under attack due to the “collusion charges” hurled against power industry
players.
He also faced many Congressional
inquiries and represented the ERC even in court proceedings when the
Commission’s rulings were legally questioned.
Salazar has acknowledged that Juan
will be a “big loss” to the Commission; while power industry players perceive
the services he rendered as “unmatched.”
Following Juan’s exit, Salazar has
indicated that the Executive Director post at the ERC will already be dissolved
and will be replaced with three divisions.
The ERC chief said that will form
part of the on-going reorganization they have been pursuing at the regulatory
body.
Aside from Juan, the head of ERC’s
legal department – lawyer Noel Salvanera – has also decided to quit his post
last December 8, 2015.
His team will be replaced by a
contingent from the Commission’s Consumer Affairs Service (CAS) unit, according
to Salazar.
“The reorganization is the last that
will be undertaken, hopefully, we will have the right team,” the ERC chief
said.
He further indicated that the ERC is
“in the process of expanding our personnel complement and this is preparatory
toward that particular end (reorganization),” qualifying that the intent will
be to double their workforce to about 500 employees.
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