Philippines: DOE urged to streamline permit processing

Philippines: DOE urged to streamline permit processing

The Senate has urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to push for the issuance
of an Executive Order (EO) that shall streamline approvals and permitting
processes for energy sector projects.

Senate Committee on Energy Chairman Sherwin T. Gatchalian said "there are
things that the Secretary (Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi) can do very,
very fast - red tape is number one."

The lawmaker expounded "if he (Cusi) can convince the President to come out
with an Executive Order just to sort out all of these red tape (in project
permitting), that will be a big help."

He said such will be highly feasible, with perception that President Rodrigo
Duterte is indeed into strongly exercising the powers of the Executive
Branch. The proposed EO delves on treating energy projects to be of
'national significance'.

"By solving those dilemmas in project permitting alone, I think we can
radically transform the power sector," Gatchalian said.

He cited that for investors to spend 1,300 days average to complete approval
processes and in securing all their necessary permits for projects, "that
will be a major turn off.who would really want to invest with that extent of
red tape?"

Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella responded that the DOE
"would be able to push our way into having an EO to streamline project
approval processes, but we are also thinking that it will be a more solid
policy if we can get it through legislation."

As a stop-gap measure though and to move things forward, Fuentebella noted
that they are now sorting out details for a proposed EO on that sphere.

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Ref: http://www.mb.com.ph/doe-urged-to-streamline-permit-processing/

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com