DOE has new usec

The Department of Energy (DOE) has a new undersecretary, replacing Ben-Hur Salcedo who retired from the government service last March 14.

Energy Secretary Vincent S. Perez Jr. said yesterday the DOE has tapped former Phillips China Inc. vice-president and upstream business development manager for Asia Eduardo V. Mañalac as undersecretary.

Mañalac has 38 years of experience in international and petroleum exploration and production management, acreage acquisition, production-sharing contracts and other joint venture negotiations. He has launched many of Phillip’s worldwide exploration efforts and has engineered some of its major acquisitions and sales.

Perez said that as petroleum expert and geologist, the new DOE undersecretary would bring his expertise in the upstream development given that the energy department is revisiting the incentives for petroleum exploration projects in the Philippines.

The energy chief also expressed his appreciation to Salcedo for his exemplary services in the government particularly in the energy sector. – Donna Gatdula