From ‘Acting’ to Full-Fledged Secretary?

By Alex P. Vidal 

“My concern was whether I could do the job of a justice well enough to convince the nation that my appointment was the right move.” – Sandra Day O’Connor 

IF luck would have it, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. might appoint acting Department of Energy (DOE) secretary Sharon Serag Garin of Iloilo as full-fledged secretary.

Some people think if her performances in the DOE are to be based, Garin, a lawyer and former party-list representative, “is very much qualified for the top DOE portfolio.”

In fact, her promotion as DOE’s officer-in-charge “has ignited optimism among nuclear energy advocates, including power giant Manila Electric Company,” according to a newspaper report.

The report quoted Meralco executive vice president and COO Ronnie Aperocho as saying in a recent interview he was “upbeat about the incoming DOE chief’s leadership in advancing nuclear targets.”

Aperocho reportedly said, “Hopefully… because she’s really on top of the nuclear agenda. We have not discussed it yet, but we think it will be at the top of her agenda.”

The daughter of the late former Iloilo congressman Oscar “Oca” Garin recently led the unveiling of the government’s nuclear roadmap, which outlines the country’s path toward realizing its nuclear dream.

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The Philippines reportedly wants to have commercially operational power plants by 2032, with at least 1,200 megawatts entering the energy mix under the roadmap.

This is reportedly expected to scale up to 2,400 MW by 2035 and 4,800 by 2050.

Garin has also underscored the need to establish an independent nuclear regulatory authority, which will oversee the safe and secure use of nuclear power.

Garin could follow the footsteps of her sister-in-law, now Iloilo first district Rep. Janette Loreto-Garin, who was appointed by the late former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) after a brief stint as DoH acting secretary.

Loreto-Garin’s assumption to the top DoH post came in November 2014 after then health secretary Enrique Ona took a leave of absence.

DOE Undersecretary Secretary Garin took the helm at the DOE when outgoing Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla moved to lead the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

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The photo released on July 1, 2025 showing Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu and Vice Mayor Love-Love Baronda posing for a photo during the lady vice mayor’s visit to the mayor’s office in the afternoon was very encouraging and electrifying.

Even though they belong in the opposite political fences, they did what their constituents have been longing to see: both top city officials smiling and standing side by side in a show of unity and cooperation.

As we have mentioned in past articles, they needed to initiate the “peace process” on their own and shouldn’t allow the senior citizen parents to decide on this focal matter. After all, they weren’t “homegrown” nemesis, or they had no history of personal rancor or incident of disliking each other.

The city mayor was quoted as saying, “Na-apresyar ko guid ang pagbisita sa aton opisina ni Vice Mayor Love-Love Baronda bisan pasado alas-5 na sang hapon. Personal ako nga nagpaabot sang aton respeto kag pagpanginbulahan sa iya.”

It was a good start for the new city hall administration in as far as the behavior of the two top city officials is concerned.

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Even though water is the most abundant substance in the human body, it doesn’t always get the respect it deserves.

Nearly half of adults in the U.S. consume less than the recommended amount of water per day, according to a 2023 CivicScience poll of nearly 2,861 people.

“That’s a problem—because staying well hydrated is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support your health,” wrote National Geographic writer Stacey Colino.

For starters, Colino pointed out in a July 1 2025 article “it’s essential for body temperature regulation, joint lubrication, digestion, detoxification, nutrient transport, energy production, as well as heart and brain function.”

In addition, proper hydration is associated with a lower risk of developing chronic diseases, dying prematurely, and being biologically older than your actual age, according to recent research from the National Institutes of Health.

“Hydration is foundational to every cellular function in the body,” says Dana Cohen, a physician specializing in integrative medicine in New York City and co-author of the books FuelUp and Quench.

“Yet many people walk around in a state of low-grade dehydration and don’t even realize it. This chronic underhydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, poor concentration, joint pain, and even cravings that are mistaken for hunger.”

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)