The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Wednesday welcomed a new chairman, Jesse Hermogenes Andres, a former Department of Justice (DOJ) undersecretary, as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the regulatory body.
The ERC said Andres formally assumed the office as OIC chair and chief executive officer under a memorandum order issued by the Office of the Executive Secretary on 20 September 2024.
On his first day in office, Andres met with commissioners Alexis Lumbatan, Catherine Maceda, Floresinda Baldo-Digal and Marko Romeo Fuentes and with executive director Nancy Aurora Fajardo and general counsel Heiddi Barrozo.
The meeting focused on briefing Andres on the agency’s core mandates as well as on urgent matters requiring immediate ERC leadership action to ensure uninterrupted delivery of service.
Andres quickly convened the management committee to emphasize the urgent need for expeditious action on all pending ERC matters.
“I will perform my functions as ERC OIC chairman with utmost fairness and independence. ERC will act expeditiously on all pending matters with a view to foster competition and ultimately drive down the price of electricity and protect consumers,” Andres said.
Prior to his appointment as OIC, Andres was a practicing lawyer for 34 years and holds a Bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of the Philippines School of Economics.
Andres is also a Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) since 2009 and completed directorship training with the Institute of Corporate Directors.
