Raphael Lotilla is good choice for Energy Secretary

Stakeholders in the energy sector heaved a sigh of relief over President Marcos’ decision to name lawyer and energy veteran Raphael “Popo” Lotilla as the country’s next Energy chief.

It is, indeed, a good choice considering the tough work ahead. Sec. Popo is no stranger to the industry, having previously served in the department from March 2005 to July 2007 under the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

I, too, was relieved when I heard about his appointment. I know he is one hardworking, brilliant, and competent professional who loves our country because I’ve covered him during his time as Energy Secretary.

When I congratulated him last week, he seemed bewildered with my message, but it was understandable for him to be nonchalant because no announcement had been made at the time.

Now, the cat is out of the bag and many in the energy sector welcome his return.

Says his predecessor, Vince Perez, who served as energy chief from 2001 to 2005:

“Incoming Sec. Raphael ‘Popo’ Lotilla is an excellent choice by President Marcos for Energy Secretary.   He is most qualified and is very familiar with the challenges facing the energy sector.  Furthermore, he is a man of integrity and a true professional. We look forward to working with him during this challenging period of energy transition.”

Former secretary Vince is current chairman of Alternergy Group of Companies.

Veteran

As I said, Sec. Popo is no stranger to the energy industry. He was the president and CEO of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), the government corporation tasked to manage the privatization of generation assets, IPP contracts, and other non-power assets, including the management of financial obligations and stranded contract costs of the state-owned National Power Corp.

He was also previously deputy director-general, with the rank of undersecretary, of the National Economic Development Authority from 1996 to January 2004.

After his stint in government, he was appointed independent director in Aboitiz Power Corp. and Ayala-owned ACE Enexor.

The task ahead

The task ahead will be tough. Our energy situation is precarious, existing power plants are old and fragile, and the Malampaya issue has yet to be fully addressed.

Indeed, with the economy struggling to recover, Sec. Popo has an enormous task ahead of him. Hopefully, his experience and academic background will arm him with all the skills he needs this time around.

A full-blooded Maroon

He is a full blooded Maroon, finishing his studies at the University of the Philippines (UP) and also serving as editor-in-chief – a much coveted post – of the Philippine Collegian, the university paper, from 1983 to 1984.

He has undergraduate degrees in Psychology and History, and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the UP, and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

He is a lawyer by profession and he began his career in academia as assistant professor of Law in 1985 at the UP upon his admission to the Bar.

He also served as UP’s vice-president for Public Affairs in 1991 and as director of the Institute of International Legal Studies of the UP Law Center from 1989 to 1996.

Map collector

But little do many people know that Sec. Popo is also a passionate map collector.

It is a quest that has “brought him” to many places –from the deepest waters of the South China sea, the southernmost tip of the Borneo island to the much-disputed Spratly territories – by keenly examining maps.

Through these maps and charts – a mixture of antiquarian and modern cartographic pieces that he has collected through the years – he has “traveled” to many places and through different periods in history.

I know this for sure because I interviewed him about it in the past.

In fact, when I congratulated him last week, he instead talked about one of his projects, the Mapping of Panay; Sec. Popo hails from Sibalom, Antique.

If I remember correctly, his passion for maps started when he found rare cartographic masterpieces in his great grandfather’s age-old baul.

And by collecting maps, he has discovered the enigmatic life of the past, the undiscovered truths about the Philippines, and the untold stories about Filipinos as a people.

One piece in his valued collection is a sea chart of anchorages and ports in Mindanao. There’s a map of Mosilagoz, a group of islands in Zamboanga del Norte. This is during the Spanish period, 1870.

Does being a map collector make him more qualified to lead the energy sector, the second time around?

I am not sure, but perhaps it tells of an individual with a keen eye for detail and one who is interested in the past.

Perhaps, somewhere in his collection, he might discover oil-exploration charts or he might simply find a cartographic inspiration on how to navigate his second stint in the energy sector.

Iris Gonzales’ email address is [email protected].

Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at eyesgonzales.com