Philippines: DOE seeks Palace intervention on approval of critical projects

Philippines: DOE seeks Palace intervention on approval of critical projects

The Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking Malacańang intervention in
declaring critical energy projects as priority.

DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the agency is proposing an executive order
(EO) to classify certain power projects as projects of national significance
to "expedite the permitting and the realization of the projects."

Once the projects are classified as such, only one government body would be
handling the permitting from other government agencies and local government
units (LGUs).

The DOE earlier pushed for the passage of a law that labels certain energy
projects as "Projects of National Significance" to cut red tape - which is
among the thrusts of the Duterte administration to attract more investors in
the country.

Last month, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said he is considering to refile a
bill that would classify energy projects as projects of national
significance to fast-track the processing of critical power projects, which
has long been an issue raised by power developers.

The bill aims to give priority to certain power projects and compel
permit-giving government agencies to work within a specific timeframe.

But through an EO, the measure does not need to go through Congress, the DOE
chief said.

"We have already formed a draft. We need to because have to present it
there, I have to make a presentation of what we need," Cusi said.

Not all energy projects would be declared as critical. Currently, the DOE is
forming a set of criteria classifying which projects would be categorized as
projects of national significance.

"We're setting a criteria that would qualify under that," Cusi said.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/11/20/1645407/doe-seeks-palace-interve
ntion-approval-critical-projects

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com