Cunanan’s SSS appointment a loss to energy sector — Perez

The recent appointment of Ambassador Thelmo Y. Cunanan to the Social Security System (SSS) is "a great loss to the energy sector," Energy Secretary Vincent Perez Jr. said Friday.

Cunanan has been president of the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) since 2001 until his appointment as SSS chairman early this week.

Perez noted that under Cunanan’s leadership, he steered PNOC towards the promotion of the use of coco-diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) for transportation.

"Ambassador Cunanan contributed both his management and diplomatic skills to the overall effort to enhance the country’s energy self-sufficiency through the promotion of coco bio-diesel and CNG," Perez said.

Cunanan was instrumental in the successful cooperation between Petronas of Malaysia and PNOC in the development of natural gas-fueled vehicles and in the field demonstration of the ENVIRO 2000 vehicles.

It was also under Cunanan’s helm that PNOC was awarded the Energy Globe Award in Austria last year. PNOC bested entries from 98 other countries in the promotion of energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources. PNOC provided remote households with electricity in Ifugao, Mountain Province thru the installations of solar panels under its solar system distribution project under a grant of 5.591 million euros from the Dutch government.

Perez underscored Cunanan’s passion for the protection and preservation of natural resources because of the latter’s staunch advocacy towards the promotion of the use of renewable energy sources.

The energy chief also acknowledged the important role played by Cunanan in the restructuring of PNOC’s subsidiaries such as PNOC Shipping and Transport Corp., Petrochemical Development Corp. and PNOC Development and Management Corp. Under his stewardship, these companies have become more profitable.

Perez expressed confidence that the SSS "will profit immensely from the wisdom and experience of Ambassador Cunanan in his pursuit of improving the delivery of its services to its members."