 |
| (Image Source: Bilyonaryo News Channel) |
Bilyonaryo News Channel is set to kick off the new year with ‘Power Shift’, a punch-packed new public service show to be anchored by three of the nation’s most formidable voices in the energy sector — former Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary and ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission) Commissioner Atty. Ina Magpale, seasoned energy journalist Myrna Velasco and energy & climate policy lawyer Atty. Ivan Galura. Set to kick off with a high-impact opener, the two-part pilot episodes will drill straight into the work of the country’s two highest ranking energy officials whose calls are rewriting policy, redefining regulation and shaking the foundations of Filipino life and the broader Philippine economy.
The first episode will have Energy Secretary Sharon Garin breaking down the country’s ‘energy transition’ play and to be followed by an unflinching deep dive with ERC Chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan who will discuss critical regulatory challenges head-on and will explain to consumers how smart choices can rein in soaring electric bills. Beyond hard-hitting interviews with energy leaders, the show also cuts to raw and unfiltered reactions from everyday Filipinos to capture the true public pulse, paired with sharp insights from top industry thought leaders for a full-spectrum view of the issues at hand, and there will be added segments to directly engage wider range of viewers on their pressing concerns — from high electric bills to expensive fuel costs at gas pumps and beyond. After the pilot, Power Shift will also examine thoroughly the future of geothermal and renewables, decarbonization challenges, navigate the shifting data center investment landscape, and unpack how the Philippines is driving sustainability through circularity, energy efficiency and growing electric vehicle (EV) adoption as well as dissect the nation’s push for further diversification with nuclear and how innovations like hydrogen, AI and broader digital transformations could reshape Philippine energy future. Adding to the lineup, Power Shift will soon feature series of ‘Power Conversations’, led by Velasco, with influential CEOs and policymakers locally and globally which will bring viewers exclusive perspectives straight from the industry’s shakers and movers.
Magpale brings over 20 years of relentless public service, cutting across all branches of government — legislative, judiciary, and executive in both appointed and elected roles. Her last government role capped a seven-year stint as Commissioner of the ERC, following a pivotal tenure as DOE Chief of Staff and Undersecretary during the Aquino administration where she oversaw critical operations of the Electric Power Industry Management and Energy Policy & Planning Bureaus, while concurrently being the Chief of Staff at the Office of the Energy Secretary. Currently, she is engaged for advisory works to the Philippine Senate’s Public Services and Migrant Workers Committees under Senator Raffy Tulfo and is also accredited by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in partnership with the NEA Training Institute to conduct lectures, workshops and discussions on various energy-related topics and issues. Her other engagements include sitting as an independent director in energy companies as well as being tapped by international development agencies and consultancy groups for renewable energy policy studies and projects. Velasco is an award-winning business journalist and energy book author, currently writing incisive columns for the Manila Bulletin and contributing in-depth articles to Forbes Philippines Magazine and Natural Gas World, a North American publication focusing on the global oil and gas industry. She also commands the stage as a sought-after speaker at energy forums not only across the Philippines but also in other Asian countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea and Japan, solidifying her reputation as a leading voice in the regional energy arena. Her international reporting spans the world’s top energy and climate events — from the UN General Assembly and UNFCCC’s COP Climate Summits, including the Paris Agreement, to the World Energy Council, World Forum on Energy Regulation, Gastech, World Petroleum Council, and the powerhouse annual gathering of global energy CEOs and thought leaders at CERAWeek in the US.
Atty. Ivan, who has a Master of Laws degree in Environmental and Energy Law from the University of Birmingham (UK), is a highly-experienced policy and regulatory lawyer specializing in energy, environment, and climate with stints as Attorney and Hearing Officer at the ERC, Deputy Director at the Philippine Senate Committee on Energy, and Consultant at the Joint Congressional Energy Commission. He is now channeling his expertise leading the Energy Policy and Regulation Practice of Singapore-based transition and transaction advisory firm Climate Smart Ventures. At the ERC, he examined and reviewed various regulatory applications filed by industry participants including Power Supply Agreements, Capital Expenditure programs, and rate adjustments. At the Philippine Senate Committee on Energy, he worked towards the passage of several landmark national laws that instituted reforms and strengthened the public’s access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy. These laws include the Murang Kuryente Act, the Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act, and the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act. At Climate Smart Ventures, he has spearheaded the conduct of a study to scope a just energy transition for the Philippines which included an analysis of the technical impact of the pivot to clean energy on the country’s grids, a review of existing policies and regulations that enable a commercially viable, just and managed transition, and a conduct of extensive consultations and dialogues with policymakers and private stakeholders from the energy and financial sectors. His work has allowed him to champion key reforms and initiatives in the intersection of energy, environment, and climate policy and regulation.
Watch out for ‘Power Shift’ and other upcoming programs to debut in 2026 on the Bilyonaryo News Channel (BNC), available on digital free TV via BEAM, SKYcable, Cignal, Blast TV, Cignal Play, TCL Channels, and Samsung TV Plus. Catch up on the latest and freshest BNC programs live and on-demand on its official Facebook page and YouTube channel.
