The President’s Men and Women: Alfonso Cusi – Helping deliver change

MANILA, Philippines - “You don’t have to be an energy man to be a leader or a manager.”

That was what Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi told critics of his appointment to the Department of Energy who pointed out he had no background or experience in the power industry.

Before his appointment to the Cabinet of President Duterte, Cusi had always been associated with the transport and logistics sector.

Back in the ’80s, he was connected with the Aboitiz Group handling the family’s maritime transportation business. He left the organization in the 1990s to form his own shipping line, Batangas-based Starlite Ferries Inc.

His experience in government started during the Arroyo administration, when he headed the Manila International Airport Authority, Philippine Ports Authority and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

After his stint in the Arroyo administration, Cusi said he never entertained the thought of rejoining government. As vice chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), he was in Davao City most of the time supporting Duterte, especially when the latter ran for president.

In his first official media briefing, Cusi recalled chatting with the then incoming president and joking about his wanting to be appointed head of the Department of Entertainment or DOE. To his surprise he was appointed to the DOE – or the Department of Energy.

“Somebody has to work also to help the President deliver the change that is required,” Cusi said when asked what made him accept the position after his initial reluctance.  

Some industry bigwigs have expressed belief the new energy chief has a lot of learning to do, given the long list of issues in the power sector that need to be addressed.

For one, Antonio Moraza, president and chief operating officer of Aboitiz Power Corp. – a major player in the power sector – told The STAR it was hard to pinpoint just one issue the new secretary should focus on.

As soon as he was named energy secretary, Cusi wasted no time to familiarize himself with the sector’s technical side.

When asked for updates on the portfolio turnover a few weeks before the Aquino administration stepped down, former energy secretary Zenaida Monsada said Cusi had been meeting with the energy family – National Power Corp., National Electrification Administration, Philippine Electricity Market Corp. and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corp. – in preparation for his new job in the incoming administration.

Cusi said in his first 10 days, he would be going around the department to learn the ropes so to speak, and know the issues and other concerns within the agency and the sector.

After that, he would start talking with power service providers, he said.

While he still has a lot of catching up to do, those who know him have high hopes that his skills in management will do wonders.

Bronzeoak Philippines Inc. director Don Mario Dia said Cusi is a good manager, and that’s what the sector needs.

Fernando Martinez, Eastern Petroleum Corp. chairman and chief executive officer, recognized Cusi’s background in government that would help him in shepherding the power sector.

Cusi said consumers would be at the heart of his leadership. His main goal is to secure reliable power supply and bring power rates down.

“My perspective in leading DOE is I’m looking at it from the perspective of a consumer. Of course I’m not discounting my responsibility to the utilities,” he said.

As for the sector players, he said his management style “has always been a participative, consultative type. I involve people.”