Lopez-Led First Gen executive appointed DOTr undersecretary

Long-time executive of Lopez-led First Gen Corporation, lawyer Teodorico Jose “Teod” R. Delfin, has been designated Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development at the Department of Transportation (DOTr), following the organizational restructuring process that newly installed Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon has been instituting at the agency, according to a highly placed source.

Delfin has been senior vice president at First Gen prior to his appointment at the Transportation department. His oath of office is expected to be administered within this week.

The source hinted that his appointment was released by the Office of the President on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), First Gen has confirmed Delfin’s resignation from the company, emphasizing that such was “in view of his assignment to a government position.”

Delfin took up his law degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1998.

His professional career spans from the time that he headed the public relations department of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in 1989. He also eventually worked with Feria Feria Lao Tantoco Law Offices.

This will be another stint for Delfin in government service, as he also served as Undersecretary at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the leadership then of the late Environment Secretary Gina Lopez.

At First Gen, Delfin has been handling regulatory and policy development works that are typically carried out with relevant government agencies, primarily those with Congress, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), as well as with relevant stakeholders in the energy sector.

When it comes to the energy sector, the synergy and convergence that the DOTr would be working on closely with the DOE will cover those on electric vehicles (EVs), as well as port support facilities for offshore wind projects.

Delfin is largely familiar with the predicaments of the energy sector on these concerns; hence, there are also expectations that he can help these industries on much-needed policy and development plans reinforcement during his tenure at the Transportation department.

To recall, Dizon has required the submission of courtesy resignation of all high-ranking DOTr officials, in his bid to re-organize the agency and for him to exercise prudence in designating subalterns on the role and function they are best fitted to deliver on.

Upon his assumption of office, the new DOTr chief has given commitment that he will speed up the implementation of key transportation projects, including those that had been hobbled with critical right-of-way (ROW) concerns.

Under the Build Better More (BBM) infrastructure development paradigm of the Marcos administration, the DOTr will be advancing the completion of key projects such as the ₱488.5-billion Metro Manila Subway, ₱873.6-billion North-South Commuter Railway, as well as other facilities that will help improve the country’s transportation network.

One of the agency’s key deliverables would also be the ₱735.6-billion New Manila International Airport project, which is being undertaken by the San Miguel Group; as well as the ongoing rehabilitation and modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).