(The Philippine Star) | Updated November 20, 2016 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - 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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