The Department of Energy (DOE) has released a new circular aimed at guiding indigenous communities in accessing and utilizing the financial benefits from hosting power-generation facilities and/or energy resource development projects pursuant to the Energy Regulations (ER) 1-94 Program.
Under Department Circular (DC) C2019-06-0010, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) shall endorse all legitimate indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples beneficiaries to the DOE within 30 days from receiving all the necessary requirements from the ICCs/IPs.
Thereafter, the DOE will notify the concerned generation company and/or energy resource developer of the inclusion of the host ICCs/IPs for the remittance of their financial benefits. The policy enables the host ICCs/IPs to utilize the funds for the implementation of their social development projects.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said his office recognizes the rights of tribal and indigenous communities to optimize available social development opportunities and preserve their critical role as the stewards of energy resources, particularly where the power plants and/or the energy resource development projects are located.
“The host ICCs/IPs’ receipt of financial benefits from power plants situated within their ancestral domain is a symbolic way to mark the 25th year of implementing ER 1-94. This arrangement with the ICCs/IPs further strengthens the DOE’s commitment to boost their participation, cooperation and sustained partnership in power development projects,” Cusi said.
Meanwhile, the DOE-Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) conducted last week the third leg of public consultations on the draft DC that would guide the end-users, renewable-energy suppliers and network service providers in facilitating the option taken by end-users to choose RE resources to supply their energy needs.
“The DOE is committed to establish an energy-secure future and bolstering our country’s RE resources is one avenue to achieve this. I am confident that the GEOP (Green Energy Option Program) will give rise to a reliable market for RE generation and enhance competition among RE and other power suppliers,” said Cusi.
The draft circular providing the “Guidelines Governing the Issuance of Operating Permits to Renewable Energy Suppliers under the GEOP”, serves as a follow through to the implementation of DOE Circular No. 2018-07-0019 entitled “Promulgating the Rules and Guidelines Governing the Establishment of the Green Energy Option Program Pursuant to the Renewable Energy Act of 2008”.
The public consultation focused on the guidelines and procedures in the issuance, administration and revocation of operating permits to RE suppliers.
REMB Director Mylene C. Capongcol and the recently appointed chairperson of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta headed the discussions, which covered relevant sections such as RE supplier qualifications, application requirements, processing and approval procedures, and the revocation or cancellation of operating permits.
Andresito Ulgado, Division Chief of the Hydro and Ocean Energy Management Division, presented the GEOP Supply Agreement, which will guide parties interested to avail the GEOP.