Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 7) — The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the designations of Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary (DICT) Ivan John Uy, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael Lotilla, and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
In the hearing headed by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, the CA also approved 60 foreign service positions under the Department of Foreign Affairs, including former DFA Secretary and now Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Teddy Boy Locsin.
During the deliberations, Lotilla vowed to meet the 35% target of renewable energy by 2030 and 50% by 2050, after Sen. JV Ejercito noted that the Philippines is one of the biggest contributors of coal emission.
Meanwhile, Solidum said he aims to provide support to scientists and investors through funding and business modeling education.
“We also need to assist them [engineers and scientists] in transferring their technologies by making them partner with potential investors and have them prepare their inventions into a spinoff company for commercialization,” Solidum said.
The CA suspended deliberations on the appointment of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista due to time constraints.
