Marcoleta not lobbying to be next DOE chief
ADDRESSING reports on the supposed offer of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to lead the Department of Energy (DoE), Deputy Speaker and Social Amelioration & Genuine Intervention on Poverty Partylist (SAGIP) party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta clarified that he is not pushing for an appointment to be the next secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE).
In an interview on Net 25’s “Sa Ganang Mamamayan“ Friday, Marcoleta said he was thankful to be considered for the position of Energy Secretary but he’s not lobbying to be appointed.
“Kailangang malaman ng mga kababayan natin, hindi ako nakikipag-gitgitan sa posisyon na ‘yan. Ang gusto kong malaman, kung sino man ang itatalaga diyan ay kailangan ma-address talaga ‘yung problema ng bansa at reporma para po ang ipinangako na maibaba natin ‘yung singil ng kuryente ay matupad” Marcoleta said.
Explaining the reason behind the refusal, Marcoleta said he will choose to go where his help is needed.
That is why Marcoleta said is more inclined to continue his legislative work as SAGIP representative and continue pushing for measures in line with his advocacies.
“Nakakuha ng dalawang posisyon ang SAGIP party-list. Ngayon, kung ikaw ay susuporta sa mga layunin ng energy sector sapagkat isa nga ako sa nangako na kinakailangan maibaba natin ang singil ng kuryente. Eh sabi ko nga kung ako ay nasa Senado sana kasi ang aking gusto ay legislation sapagkat inaakala ko, kung nasa Senado ako mapapabilis ko siguro at siguro, mas marami ang energy ko roon ‘pag nag-senador ako. Pero ngayon, dalawa naman ang posisyon namin, baka kako ma-energize lalo, ano. So ‘yun ang sagot ko, ano. Hindi tayo nakikipaggitgitan,” he said.
But if he were to be asked about his preference for the next DoE head, Marcoleta said he would want someone who could focus on reforms that would help bring down the rising electricity charges in the country.
This includes amending existing laws, particularly those allowing large power firms to take advantage and profit from systems loss charging fees. Among these are the Anti-Pilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Act of 1994 and the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).
“Kung sino man ang itatalaga diyan ay kailangan ma-address talaga ‘yung problema ng bansa. Hindi lang naman kasi ‘yung tungkol doon sa generation na pinag-uusapan, eh. Mga problema sa transmission at gan’un din sa distribution, marami talagang dapat na mareporma diyan at kailangan isa-isahing matukoy at kailangan talagang makabayan kung sino man ang kaniyang matutukoy at mahirang na kalihim ng Department of Energy,” he said.
