THE Makati Business Club (MBC) expressed support to energy government bodies in their efforts to build up the transparent, competitive and performance-based environment the Philippines needs to attract investment in much-needed generating, transmission and distribution capacity.

“The country is facing a myriad of problems relating to energy, which is always subject to political, economic and other headwinds,” MBC Chairman Edgar Chua said after a group of MBC members met with Department of Energy (DoE) Secretary Raphael Lotilla on October 5.

Chua also recognized the efforts of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairman Monalisa Dimalanta and National Transmission Corp. President Dr. Rowena Guevarra, along with Energy chief Lotilla, “in taking the right steps to ensure we have the energy to maintain recovery, accelerate growth and provide more jobs and better lives for all Filipinos.”

The MBC welcomed recent DoE appointments led by Rep. Sharon Garin, former representative Felix William “Wimpy” Fuentebella, Giovanni Carlo Bacordo and Alessandro Sales.

“We are excited that Rep[resentative] Garin, former representative Fuentebella, former Navy chief Bacordo and former Philodrill executive Sales will bring their knowledge and experience to the energy challenge thus ensuring the chances that the right policies and decisions are pursued to power the government’s economic plans,” Chua said.

The meeting followed recent DoE and ERC decisions to uphold power supply contracts, approve the takeover of the Malampaya gas project and increase the renewable energy requirement in the power mix.

Joining Lotilla in the meeting were Undersecretaries Garin, Fuentebella, Bacordo and Sales.

With Chua were Vicente Perez, Alternergy chairman and former Energy secretary; Lubin Nepomuceno, Petron president; Lorelie Osial, Shell country head; Emmanuel Rubio, Aboitiz Power president; Danel Aboitiz, Aboitiz Power chief commercial and stakeholder engagement officer; Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, ACEN director; Jose Maria Zabaleta, ACEN chief development officer; Emil Andre Garcia, Vivant Energy president; Isidro Consunji, Semirara Mining and Power chairman and chief executive officer; and Jose Carlitos Cruz, MBC board member and DoE advisor.

Lotilla is the 10th new government official MBC has met since the election of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. MBC also met House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Lilia Guillermo.