By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

FORMER Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board director Velma Palacios has been nominated to sit on the yet-to-be-formed Public Utilities Commission board which will be CUC’s new governing body.
Palacios who has a degree in engineering will replace one of the five nominees who have backed out.
“Ms. Palacios is well qualified to fulfill the vital responsibilities of this commission because of her considerable managerial experience in engineering,” said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial in his transmittal letter to the Senate yesterday.
Fitial said Palacios’ term will be either two or four years, depending on the PUC board’s decision.
The governor also nominated Juan SN Lizama to replace Retirement Fund board trustee Rita A. Sablan whose term is expiring on May 8.
Lizama is involved in the banking industry, according to Senate staffers. “Mr. Lizama will serve a four-year term and because the terms of the board of trustees are staggered, his term will expire on May 9, 2011,” the governor told the Senate.
Palacios’s nomination must also be confirmed by the House of Representatives as required by the law that created PUC.