Appointments body OKs nominations of DTI, DOE chiefs

(Updated 2:11 p.m.) The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday approved the appointments of Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo and Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras. The CA made the confirmation after Domingo was recommended by its trade and industry committee on Tuesday and Almendras by its energy committee earlier in the day. Domingo's appointment was not met with any formal oppositon during the course of the CA hearings. CA trade and industry committee chairman Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, who sponsored Domingo's nomination, described the secretary as a "visionary and innovator." "Mr. chairman, my esteemed colleagues (are) unanimously convinced of the unquestionable, unassailable qualifications, competence, fitness, and integrity of Sec. Domingo," Biron said during the CA's plenary session on Wednesday. Almendras, on the other hand, was only recommended for confirmation after three hearings were conducted and his appointment was blocked by several oppositors. Senator Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III, chairman of the CA energy committee, earlier said that Almendras' confirmation was put on hold because of certain issues which did not even happen during his administration. Among these issues is the decision of the National Electrification Administration — traditionally chaired by the DOE head — on the corruption and bribery charges filed against a former Iloilo governor and the supposed non-payment of real estate taxes amounting to around P6 billion by the Pagbilao Plant in Pagbilao, Quezon. But Osmeña, who also sponsored Almendras' confirmation, said that the DOE chief was certainly qualified to head the department. "He considered himself lacking in experience (but he turned himself) into an expert after just seven months in office and impressed the committee with his deep and wide understanding of the complex issues besetting the (energy) sector," Osmeña said during Wednesday's CA plenary session. "He brings with him with hope for a much better life for future generations. The task is daunting but it is his dedication and expertise in the job that would inspire him to do so," he added. In an interview with reporters, Almendras said he was thankful to the members of the commission for finally giving him an opportunity to help solve the problems of the energy sector. "I am very grateful to the commission, to all of the members of the commission for having given me this opportunity, thank you for the confirmation," he said Previous posts Domingo served as DTI undersecretary in the earlier part of the Arroyo administration when defeated Liberal Party vice presidential bet Mar Roxas was secretary of the department, and also as managing head of the Board of Investments. He was also executive director of SM Investments Corp. He previously served as president of Carmelray-JTCI Corporation, and as managing director of Chemical Bank in New York and Chase Manhattan Bank in Manila. He holds a master’s degree in Business Management from the Asian Institute of Management. On the other hand, Almendras was a top executive in some of the country's biggest companies. He was president of Manila Water Co. and managing director of Ayala Land Inc. He was also previously president and CEO of two listed companies managed by the Ayala Land Group, Cebu Holdings, Inc. and Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp. Almendras completed the Strategic Business Economics Program of the University of Asia and the Pacific. He was also Aquino's classmate when he took his undergraduate course in business management at the Ateneo de Manila University. The CA The CA had earlier confirmed the appointments of Education Sec. Armin Luistro, Tourism Sec. Alberto Lim, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala, and Public Works Sec. Rogelio Singson. On the other hand, the confirmation of Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin was deferred because of some pending questions by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano. The CA is composed of the Senate president as its head and 12 senators and 12 congressmen as its members. The commission’s duty as mandated by the Constitution is to confirm all appointments made by the President of the Philippines, except those of the Ombudsman and Supreme Court Justices. The CA discusses and deliberates on nominations at the standing committee level and at the plenary session. Nominations or appointments may end up being confirmed, rejected or bypassed. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV