THE Department of Energy (DoE) will soon come out with the implementing guidelines of an executive order (EO) that fast-tracks the issuance of permits for power generation ventures regarded as projects 鈥渙f national significance.鈥
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi told reporters on Wednesday the Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC) met yesterday to 鈥渙rganize the framework on how we鈥檙e going to implement it.鈥
Signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on June 28, EO 30 streamlines the regulatory procedures covering energy projects of national significance under the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP).
The EICC, chaired by the DoE, will release the implementing rules and regulations of EO 30 鈥渨ithin the first half鈥 of August, Mr. Cusi said on the sidelines of the 48th founding anniversary of the National Electrification Administration in Quezon City.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have to wait for next year. We鈥檙e going to do it within this year. Kailangan ma-implement agad 鈥榶ung mga projects (The projects have to be implemented at once),鈥 Mr. Cusi said.
EO 30 defines 鈥渆nergy projects of national significance鈥 as those involving power generation, transmission or ancillary services 鈥渋ncluding those required to maintain grid stability and security…鈥 For a project to be classified of national significance, the scale of capital investment should be at least P3.5 billion, among others.
The order directs the EICC to, among others, 鈥渆stablish a simplified approval process and harmonize the relevant rules and regulations of all government agencies involved in obtaining permits and regulatory approvals…鈥
The council will also maintain a database of information and a Web-based monitoring system for information exchange and updates to uphold transparency and accountability.
The EICC is chaired by the DoE and is composed of representatives from various national government agencies and relevant energy institutions, including the departments of Natural Resources, of Finance, of Justice and of Transportation, and their relevant attached agencies, as well as the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development. — Krista Angela M. Montealegre
