ANTONIO "TONYPET" T. ALBANO

Mr. Chair, distinguished members of the Commission, I rise today with great pride and conviction to second the motion for the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Secretary Sharon S. Garin as Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE).

At a time when our country faces rising power costs, the urgent demand for energy security, and the need to accelerate our transition toward renewable and sustainable sources of energy, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. could not have chosen a more capable, more prepared, and more committed leader to take the helm of the DOE.

Secretary Garin is no stranger to the interplay of policy, governance, and energy development.  She brings with her an impressive academic background.  More than being a Certified Public Accountant, she is also a lawyer, and a holder of a Master's degree in Business Administration.  These credentials are not merely academic distinctions, they represent the strong foundation of competence and discipline that she has consistently applied throughout her decades of public service.

For twelve years in the House of Representatives, she distinguished herself as one of the most studious and effective legislators of her generation.  She spearheaded landmark measures that paved the way for inclusive growth such as the CREATE Law, the TRAIN Law, the New Public Service Act, and the Foreign Investments Act.

Her track record in energy legislation is worthy of her appointment.  She proposed measures that facilitated the enactment of laws in the areas of power and energy, which brought to fruition laws such as the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act (PhilATOM), the Natural Gas Industry Act, the Waste-to-Energy Act, amendments to the Renewable Energy Act, the Biofuels Act, and the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

Moreover, her years of experience as Undersecretary of the DOE further prepared her for this responsibility.  She oversaw the Financial and Legal Services of the Department, chaired the Nuclear Energy Program Interagency Committee, and played a key role in streamlining renewable energy contracts to attract more investments.  She has exhibited not only technical competence but also the resolve to address operational challenges in the sector, always prioritizing reliable service delivery for the public.

Today, as Secretary of Energy, she has laid down a clear and ambitious roadmap

a) Accelerate renewable energy development through the Green Energy Auction Program

b) Expand electrification efforts to bring power to more homes

c) Make energy more robust and reliable to withstand outages and disasters

d) Attract more investors to help expand our power supply

Mr. Chairman, colleagues, Secretary Garin embodies the rare blend of technical expertise, legislative experience, and executive leadership that our Department of Energy urgently needs.  She is principled yet pragmatic, decisive yet collaborative.  She has the trust of the President, the respect of her peers, and the confidence of both the public and private sectors.

In the words of President Marcos Jr. himself, Secretary Garin's experience in legislation and energy policy will help us deliver "more reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy for every Filipino under Bagong Pilipinas".

For these reasons, I respectfully second the motion to confirm her ad interim appointment as Secretary of Energy.

Mr. Chairman, distinguished colleagues of the Commission on Appointments,.

It is with great honor that I rise to manifest my full support for the confirmation of these gallant officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Men who did not merely wear the uniform, but carried it with weight, with purpose, and with unquestionable fidelity to the Republic.

They did not choose to serve for applause, for titles, nor for public praise, they served so that the rest of us may sleep peacefully at night, assuring us that someone is standing guard.

The appointments we have here today are not merely for show. They represent renewed calls to lead with a heavier responsibility to bear. They demand for steadiness in crisis, fairness in command, and moral courage when the right decision is difficult to make.

Our nation today faces challenges on every front, from territorial aggression, natural calamities, and emerging forms of conflict that require both strength and strategy. In such times, hesitation is a luxury we cannot afford. We need leaders who do not falter when pressure mounts, who think not of themselves but of the flag they swore to defend. The officers before us have proven, time and again, that they embody such qualities.

Mr. Chairman, the confirmation of these appointments is more than a procedural requirement; it is an expression of confidence that the Filipino people remain secure under the watch of a military that is disciplined, principled, and deeply patriotic.

May these new stars, stripes, or whatever insignia which now rests upon your shoulders serve not merely as decorations of rank, but as daily reminders of the sacred duty you carry.

To the families who share silently in every deployment, every sacrifice, and every homecoming delayed — our deepest gratitude. You, too, serve this nation.

With that, I wholeheartedly second their confirmation.

Mr. Chair, I rise to extend my full support to the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the 27 Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.  

These new group of officers before us have demonstrated through their careers  that their loyalty is never about prominence nor privilege, it is about the Republic  and to the people whose freedom and futures they secure. 

Their confirmation today represents more than just their personal  accomplishments. They reflect already this to uphold discipline amid challenges  and to make firm decisions in moments when hesitation bears real and lasting  consequences. 

Mr. Chairman, confirming these officers is a testament to our confidence that  the nation’s defense rests in the hands of leaders who are prepared for the demands of this era.  Leaders who exemplify competence, integrity, and an  enduring commitment of duty. 

Mr. Chairman, I therefore respectfully and wholeheartedly second the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of these outstanding 27 General Flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

God Bless the Armed Forces, and God Bless the Republic of the Philippines.

“Mr. Chair, distinguished colleagues, I rise to second the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the four foreign service officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs whose names have been submitted to this Commission for our consideration.

The conduct of foreign relations is among the most consequential responsibilities entrusted to the State. It demands not only intellectual preparation and technical competence, but also judgment, restraint, and a steady sense of duty to the Republic. The officers of our Foreign Service carry this responsibility daily, representing the Philippines before the international community, safeguarding the welfare of our citizens abroad, and advancing the interests of the nation through careful diplomacy.

The individuals before us today form part of the community of public servants entrusted with advancing Philippine diplomacy. Their appointment reflects years of experience in public service, policy engagement, and professional work that contribute to the continuity and strength of our diplomatic efforts across administrations and across generations.

In confirming officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs, this Commission reinforces an important principle: that our diplomacy must remain anchored in professionalism, continuity, and institutional strength.

For these reasons, Mr. Chair, I respectfully second the confirmation of the nominee and appointees before us and express my full support for their appointments.”

“Mr. Chair, distinguished Members of the Commission:

I rise to second the confirmation of the fifty-seven (57) Generals/Flag Officer and Senior Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines whose appointments are now before this Commission.

What we consider today is not a mere administrative formality. It is an exercise of constitutional judgment that bears directly on the strength, continuity, and credibility of one of the Republic's most vital institutions. In confirming these officers, we do more than approve appointments. We reinforce the structure of command upon which national defense, public security, and institutional stability depend.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is sustained not by weapons and equipment alone. It is sustained by leadership-by men and women entrusted with authority who possess not only competence, but also discipline, discernment, and fidelity to duty. At the level of higher command, responsibility becomes graver. It requires not only skill, but steadiness of judgment, firmness of character, and the capacity to lead with honor.

That is why these confirmations matter.

They signify that the institution has recognized in these officers the maturity and professional merit required by higher rank. They reflect years of service rendered under demanding conditions, often without acclaim. They remind us that military leadership is not ceremonial. It is earned in the field, in command, in administration, in sacrifice, and in the daily discipline of carrying burdens greater than oneself.

To the officers whose confirmations are now before us, this moment is both recognition and charge. It recognizes what you have already given in service to the nation. But it also charges you to give more. To lead with composure, to command with justice, to uphold the dignity of the uniform, and to prove worthy of the confidence now placed in you. Higher rank does not diminish the burden of duty. It enlarges it.

In seconding these confirmations, we affirm that the Armed Forces must be led by officers of merit and demonstrated capacity, and that the chain of command must remain orderly, complete, and entrusted to those prepared to bear responsibility with integrity.

For these reasons, Mr. Chair, I respectfully second the confirmation of these Generals/Flag Officer and Senior Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”