THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it’s searching for to standardize local government unit (LGU) ordinances for approving energy infrastructure projects.
“By implementing this standardized approach, the DoE seeks to create a more transparent regulatory environment and speed up the event of critical energy infrastructure that supports the country’s long-term energy security and economic growth,” the DoE said in a press release on Thursday.
The DoE said it has consulted with LGUS on ways to streamline the permit process and “create a more investment-friendly environment for energy development.”
“By working closely with LGUs, we enhance regulatory transparency, improve coordination, and streamline approval processes. These efforts not only facilitate faster project implementation but additionally reinforce the federal government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s energy infrastructure and advancing sustainability initiatives,” Energy Undersecretary Sharon S. Garin said.
The DoE said Iloilo province is serving as a pilot area for the initiative attributable to its large variety of existing and upcoming renewable energy (RE) projects.
It said that the province is positioning itself as a middle for sustainable energy after passing the Iloilo Province Renewable Energy Ordinance (I-PORE) in 2022.
Because the first LGU to pass such an ordinance, Iloilo has encouraged the event of renewable energy infrastructure, pushing barangays and municipalities to discover potential RE investment sites, and provided incentives under the provincial investment code.
Iloilo is currently hosting three operational renewable energy projects and is expecting 26 more.
In accordance with the DoE, one of the common bottlenecks in developing power projects is the “various timelines for the issuance of permits” just like the LGU Resolutions of Support, causing significant delays.
The proposed ordinance template recommends that these resolutions be issued “inside a definite and transparent timeline” to make sure “a more predictable and efficient approval process.”
The DoE said that LGUs also needs to prioritize and permit parallel processing of applications for strategic investments in energy, versus resorting to a step-by-step approval chain. They were also urged to issue provisional permits and publish and post their schedules of fees and charges. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera
