Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star)
- May 3, 2018 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’
committee on energy has mobilized its technical working group to start
harmonizing two bills seeking to encourage consumers to use the solar power
system and provide renewable energy developers with incentives and financing
capability.
Up for consolidation are House Bill
6960 authored by Bataan Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia III and HB 6565 of Bayan
Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, both seeking to promote the use of
renewable energy in homes, offices, schools and factories.
The bills seek to mandate the
Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Board and Housing and Urban
Development Coordinating Council to encourage the installation of small solar
energy systems in homes and business establishments all over the country.
Subject to existing laws, incentives
shall be granted to renewable energy developers as provided for in Republic Act
9513 or the Renewable Energy Act, and eligible participants using small solar
power systems.
The Department of Finance and other
concerned agencies shall create appropriate mechanisms for the grant of
subsidies, establishment of guarantee funds, and provision of tax credits on
the purchase and installation of small solar power systems for residential use.
The incentive mechanism will
be implemented in tranches, beginning from a subsidy of 75 percent of the basic
cost for the installation of small solar power systems in the first three years
of implementation in case it is enacted into law.
This will be followed by another 50
percent in the next three years, and 25 percent in the seventh year
onward.
During the recent TWG hearing
presided by committee vice chairman Rep. Carlos Roman Uybarreta, Garcia
and Zarate noted that the Duterte administration favors the eventual phase-out
of coal power plants that use harmful fuels, leading the country toward more
investments in renewable energy.
They also urged the government to
advance the exploration and utilization of renewable energy in light of
tightening oil supply and the increasing cost of commodities.
Garcia said the use of renewable
energy is a viable solution to the decreasing supply of energy in the country.
Zarate cited the need for
alternative sources of energy to relieve consumers of the high cost of
commercial energy.
Meanwhile, Home Development Mutual
Fund legal department manager Jose Roberto Po said the HDMF-Pag-IBIG offers
loans for the purchase and installation of solar panels. He said HDMF has
credit facilities for the installation of solar power systems as part of its
home improvement loan to its qualified members.
Solar Philippines president Leandro
Leviste suggested that users of small solar power systems be qualified to enter
into net metering agreements with distribution utilities without any barrier
and discrimination.
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