Alcordo appointed Napocor president

President Arroyo formally announced yesterday the appointment of businessman Jesus Alcordo as president of the National Power Corp. (Napocor).

In a multisectoral dialogue with residents of Baguio City, the President introduced Alcordo as the state power firm’s new head who will respond to the issues raised on the government’s San Roque hydro-electric power project.

"Napocor president Jess Alcordo has said to me he can set aside P25 million to attend to the claims of the displaced residents of San Roque," Mrs. Arroyo told those attending the dialogue.

Alcordo had originally been designated secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE), one of the President’s first appointments at the start of her administration.

However, Mrs. Arroyo withdrew the appointment after being informed of legal complications that may hinder the businessman’s assumption to office.

The law creating the DOE stipulates that anyone assuming the position of secretary must have been detached from any energy-related business for at least one year.

Alcordo, a licensed chemical engineer, is president of several corporations involved in power generation, including East Asia Power Resources Corp., subsidiary East Asia Utilities Corp. and Cebu Private Power Corp. The company operates several diesel-powered plants in the Visayas.

His appointment as Napocor chief came even as Mrs. Arroyo reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to privatize the power firm as stated in the Omnibus Power Sector Reform bill still awaiting passage in Congress.

The President has yet to designate an energy secretary, one of three remaining vacant Cabinet positions. The other two are for the position of health secretary and environment secretary. – Marichu Villanueva