Alcordo named ERC member

Former National Power Corp. (Napocor) president and Energy Undersecretary Jesus Alcordo took his oath yesterday as the new commissioner of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in place of Mary Ann Colayco who resigned recently.

In a telephone interview, Alcordo said he is optimistic that with his knowledge in the power industry from being a private sector player (East Asia Power) and in the public sector (Napocor and DOE), he can contribute "something" to the ERC.

"I was called to join the ERC. I was asked to help. So I guess I have to contribute something to the industry," Alcordo said.

ERC chairman Manuel Sanchez, on the other hand, welcomed Alcordo’s entry into the commission. "We are pleased with his election. He is fully-equipped with experience in the industry and knowledgeable on how the market operates," Sanchez said.

The ERC chief said Alcordo will surely be a "good contributor". "He expressed his willingness to work with the commission," he said. Alcordo is expected to attend his first committee hearing on Wednesday.

Alcordo took a leave in Dec. 2001 and eventually resigned as Napocor president in Jan. 2002, citing family issues. A few months later, he was appointed presidential adviser on power at the Department of Energy (DOE) with the rank of undersecretary.

Before his appointment as Napocor chief, Alcordo was being eyed to the top DOE post but this did not materialize because of a perceived conflict of interest.

Alcordo was faced with various controversies when he was with Napocor. The electrical engineer and former military man was blamed for the series of power blackouts in Metro Manila.

He was also linked in the controversial pay-off issue to some Congressmen to pass the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), in the Napocor’s O-Ilaw anomalies and the GSIS/Napocor reinsurance issue. Alcordo was also mentioned by former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile in his testimony before the ERC on the issue of overcharging of Meralco and Duracom, one of the Lopez-controlled power firm’s independent power producers. Duracom is owned by East Asia which was then headed by Alcordo.

But Alcordo said these issues have already been resolved and he had documents to prove that he is innocent of these allegations.