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CA panel defers DOE chief appointment: Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Commission on Appointment’s Committee on Energy, presides over the deliberation on the ad interim appointment of Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla as secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE). The panel suspended Tuesday, November 29, 2022 Lotilla’s appointment due to lack of material time. “On the motion of the (assistant) majority leader (Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito), we suspend the deliberation on the ad interim appointment of Raphael Lotilla, secretary, Department of Energy, to resume until further notice,” Legarda said. Ejercito said there were members who have questions to ask the nominee. The advisory also said the panel has to tackle the opposition to Lotilla’s appointment filed by former DOE Usec. Petronilo Ilagan, now president of the National Association of Electricity Consumer for Reforms (Nasecor). Earlier, Legarda said the mandate of the DOE secretary is to prepare, integrate, coordinate, supervise and control all plans, programs, projects, activities of the state relative to energy exploration, development, utilization, distribution and conservation. “The department requires a leader who can champion sustainable energy policies while steering the energy industry towards becoming energy resilient and independent in the face of both energy crisis, a climate crisis and a spate of oil price hikes,” Legarda said. (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)