(Taguig City). Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi announced today that important energy projects will now move faster following the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Executive Order No. 30 (IRR of EO30)
Signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in June last year, EO 30 created the Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC) to streamline the regulatory procedures affecting energy projects of national importance.
“With the IRR in place, the stakeholders can now expect the prompt delivery of basic energy services to our people with the realization of vital energy infrastructures, while providing additional economic investments for us to truly compete globally,” Cusi explained.
Cusi said the IRR marks the end of slow-moving energy projects that are impeding the economic development in the country because they are hampered to a large extent by the rigid regulatory processes.
The Department of Energy (DOE) issued the IRR on 25 April 2018 through Department Circular No. DC2018-04-0013 to put into operation EO 30.
It was published in newspapers of general circulation on May 4, 2018 and is taking effect immediately.
Under the IRR, the processing of permits and licenses shall be within a maximum period of 30 days for projects declared as Energy Projects of National Significance (EPNS).
The IRR outlines the scope of EPNS and the general framework for the processing of the EPNS applications.
The 30-day deadline starts from the submission of the complete documentary requirements to the relevant agencies involved in the permitting process.
It likewise highlights the application of the principle of presumption of prior approvals. This means that a holder of the “EPNS Certificate” is presumed to have already complied with the requirements and permits from other government permitting agencies.
The IRR is consistent with the mandate of the EICC to establish a simplified approval process and harmonize the relevant rules and regulations of all government agencies involved in obtaining permits and regulatory approvals to expedite the development and implementation not only of EPNS but other energy projects as well.
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