The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) proposed the drafting of a joint memorandum circular or an executive order that would help expedite the permitting process in the renewable energy (RE) industry.
At the stakeholders meeting on February 28 in Quezon City, ARTA director-general Ernesto Perez made this proposal as part of the study on policies and and regulations that would further expedite the full establishment of RE in the Philippines.
Perez, together with the ARTA Better Regulations Office (BRO), tackled the background of the energy sector, current challenges, and ongoing initiatives of government agencies with the energy stakeholders to fast-track the permitting processes and promote ease of doing business in the energy industry.
“The energy sector is one of our President’s priorities in his administration’s socio-economic agenda,” Perez said. “That is why we need to coordinate through this meeting, to streamline and fast-track the energy sector’s permitting and licensing process and attract more investors in the country.”
In attendance are representatives of the Developers of Renewable Energy for AdvanceMent DREAM), Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Board of Investments (BOI), National Electrification Administration, Department of Energy (DOE), National Power Corp. Department of Finance, Aboitiz Power Corp, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Energy Development Corp., Global Business Power Corp., Mindanao Development Authority, Philippine National Oil Company, San Miguel Global Power, Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corp. and Kepco KPS Carabao Corp.
Perez suggested and requested to hear the recommendations of the DOE, BOI and DREAM to further address the presented challenges in the sector in the next scheduled meeting in March.
“With a whole-of-nation approach, we will continue coordinating with both the public and the private sector stakeholders to ensure energy security nationwide,” Perez said. Irma Isip