The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport) and the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) on Monday expressed support for embattled Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chairperson, Monalisa Dimalanta, who has been ordered suspended by the Ombudsman.
The influential groups said that since Dimalanta’s appointment as agency head, “the ERC has become more active in addressing issues in the industry, acknowledging the important role of energy and power to attract investments, improving the productivity of local industries and enterprises and enhancing the country’s economic competitiveness.”
The business groups lauded the ERC under Dimalanta for taking “ a proactive stance in its rate and service regulation functions, in promoting competitive operations of the electric power industry and education campaign for consumer protection.”
The groups collectively warned that the six-month suspension order “may lead to a disruption in the workings of the ERC, which may impact consumers, businesses and producers alike.”
“This decision along with other recent decisions by the judiciary puts at risk the trust, independence and authority of the ERC. Regulators are essential to fostering an environment where investors will invest, consumers are protected, and economic growth is sustainable.” the businessmen said in a statement.
Dimalanta’s lawyers claimed the ERC official has yet to be provided a copy of the complaint against her.
But the ERC Office of the Executive Director on Monday acknowledged receiving the order preventively suspending Dimalanta from government service for six months without pay.
The Ombudsman also directed the Office of the Executive Secretary in Malacanang to implement the suspension and to appoint an officer-in-charge at the ERC.
As this develops, the ERC gave assurance that all agency units will continue to function “to the extent possible and as required by the exigencies of service.”
“The order does contain some allegations, without providing, however, any statement as to the evidence submitted by the complainant that became the basis for the issuance of the preventive suspension order. Chairperson Dimalanta and her lawyers are studying the matter in order to take all available legal remedies given the circumstances,” the ERC said.
