Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta has tendered her “irrevocable resignation” to the Office of the President on Monday, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

The development, confirmed by official industry sources, leads to a leadership vacuum with the commission. PCO press officer Claire Castro confirmed the resignation in a message to Palace reporters. No further explanation was given regarding the decision.

“Unless there is any announcement from Malacañang, nothing is official. We should never preempt the appointing authority,” Dimalanta said through a spokesperson, when asked for a comment on Tuesday morning.

Dimalanta, who was appointed in 2022 and whose term was set to end in 2029, exits just days after ERC Commissioners Alexis Lumbatan and Catherine Maceda retired upon completing their respective seven-year terms on July 10.

Should Dimalanta’s resignation be accepted, the ERC will be left with only two active commissioners, Floresinda Baldo-Digal and Marko Romeo Lizada Fuentes, whose terms end in 2027. The absence of a quorum could cause potential delays in the agency’s ability to decide on critical regulatory matters, including power rate petitions and energy sector policies.

There is no word yet on whether President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has accepted Dimalanta’s resignation or if a broader reshuffle at the ERC is forthcoming.

What do you think this means for regulatory stability and investment confidence in the energy sector? Join the discussion.

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