THE ENERGY Regulatory Commission (ERC) assured the public that the retirement of two its commissioners will not impact its operations.

“We can assure the public because the three remaining commissioners still constitute a quorum. So there’s no excuse for us to stop or delay operations of the commission,” ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa C. Dimalanta told reporters on Monday.

“Aside from that, it’s our duty. It’s our duty to still make sure that the commission functions with just three commissioners,” she said.

The five-member ERC board comprises of commissioners Alexis Lumbatan, Catherine Maceda, Floresinda Baldo-Digal and Marko Romeo Fuentes, all of whom are appointed under the Duterte administration. Meanwhile, Ms. Dimalanta took the helm as the ERC chief in 2022.

The ERC is an independent, quasi-judicial body that enforces the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and its implementing rules and regulations.

Ms. Maceda said that the responsibility as a commissioner provides “a true test to one’s character” as a public servant.

“This is a sector that is in view with public interest. It’s also in view with private sector interest,” Ms. Maceda said.

With various cases being filed with the ERC, she said that there is a need to stake “a well-balanced approach and mindset to the point that you don’t comprise on interest over the other.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Lumbatan said that the electric power industry is now “at a very crucial stage,” signaling importance for the next commissioners and the industry to be characterized by integrity and honesty.

“Because the challenge of a member of the commission is to balance between the interest of the investing entities and protecting the interest of the consumers,” he said.

Mr. Lumbatan said that it would be better for the upcoming commissioners to “hit the ground running” as there would be more major decisions in the coming weeks and months. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera