Electric cooperatives back confirmation of Perez

The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Inc. (Philreca) recently expressed its support for the confirmation of the appointment of Energy Secretary Vincent Perez in a bid to further speed up the implementation of the rural electrification program.

In a letter to the Commission on Appointments (CA), Philreca president Rosalino Culalic cited the support and concern of Perez for the program. The Philreca covers 119 electric cooperatives throughout the country serving a combined 5.3 million households mostly based in the regions.

As energy secretary, Perez sits as chairman of the board of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), an attached energy of the Department of Energy (DOE).

The Philreca endorsement was backed by the National Association of General Managers of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (NAGMEC) which cited the "dynamic leadership" shown by Perez in the pursuit of the Arroyo government’s rural electrification goals.

NAGMEC president Edilberto Bassig lauded the support of Perez saying, "it is for the progress and development of electric cooperatives."

Perez is scheduled to appear before the GA energy committee hearing this week.

A graduate of Wharton Business School, Perez worked as an international investment banker before joining the Arroyo Cabinet. He was named trade and industry undersecretary and head of the Board of Investments prior to his appointment as acting secretary of energy.

Perez’ designation comes at a time when the government is set to speed up the implementation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act which seeks to liberalize the energy sector.