Former solon praises Benitez over hands-on power sector reforms

Former lawmaker and public service advocate Nathaniel Oducado praised Representative Alfredo "Albee" Benitez for driving results-oriented efforts to address long-standing challenges in the country's energy sector, citing progress toward resolving a 12-year-old dispute.

Oducado said that his policy review team recently completed an intensive assessment of long-overlooked power issues to determine necessary legislative reforms, regulatory policy shifts, and inter-agency interventions.

"The work has been demanding, but seeing long-standing concerns transformed into a concrete roadmap—with people assigned to carry the work forward—makes all those long meetings and difficult conversations worthwhile," Oducado said.

Reflecting on his transition from non-governmental organization advocacy to policy formulation, Oducado commended Benitez's direct involvement in reviewing complex energy frameworks.

"Leadership is not simply about passing bills or attending hearings," Oducado said. "It is also about having the courage to take on problems that have outlasted people’s patience and the persistence to see them through."

Following groundwork conducted over the past two months, government regulatory offices and private energy stakeholders are scheduled to meet next week under Benitez's initiative to finalize an agreement resolving the decade-long sector issue.

Meantime, Benitez stressed that resolving persistent power sector bottlenecks requires sustained coordination among public and private entities.

"Our responsibility is to bring the right people together, confront difficult issues honestly, and keep working until we find solutions that serve the public interest," Benitez said.

Oducado, on the other hand, expressed optimism that ongoing negotiations will produce formal regulatory agreements that benefit consumers and stabilize power distribution networks nationwide.