MBC Statement on Suspension of ERC Chair Dimalanta

13 September 2024 – We would like to express our full support for Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairman Monalisa Dimalanta, whose integrity and competence has helped contribute to making the ERC a more effective agency.

Atty. Dimalanta has made significant efforts to ensure that power is affordable for low income households. Earlier this year, the ERC fully implemented the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program which will provide subsidies to the electric bills of recipients of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and other low-income electricity consumers who use no more than 100 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power per month. The ERC has also been working with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in developing an Electricity Affordability Index for consumers to track variations in tariffs of their respective electric bills as well as variations of prices across regions.

Since the renewable energy sector was opened up to 100% foreign equity, Atty. Dimalanta has also been active in ensuring that more investors in renewables as well as addressing the concerns of investors in the power sector. She did this by entering a critical partnership with the Board of Investments and integrating the permitting system of the ERC into the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop.

We believe that the 6- month suspension order issued by the Ombudsman not only affects investor perception but also affects the certainty of the Philippine business environment given the critical role of power in business and investments.

In light of this, we would like to strongly advocate for the immediate return of Atty. Dimalanta to her position to ensure the restoration of integrity of the ERC and to assure our investors and power players of the stability of the Philippine business environment especially the power sector as well as the integrity of our regulatory bodies.

Reliable, affordable, and renewable power are key advocacies of MBC.