DoE wants power to issue ECCs for critical electricity projects
THE Department of Energy (DoE) has drafted an executive order that will certify as urgent energy development projects as being of national significance, giving it the power to issue a key environmental clearance to hasten their completion, the Energy secretary said on Thursday.
“Because of the need for additional (power) capacity we need to fast-track the implementation of power plants,” said DoE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on the sidelines of a Senate hearing on Thursday.
“As soon as we get the EO (executive order) that would expedite things,” he said.
Mr. Cusi said a draft of the executive order has been submitted by his department to the Executive Secretary, whose say on the matter is awaited by the DoE to move the initiative forward.
He said that among the draft’s key measures is a provision that will “delegate” to the DoE of the responsibility to issue environmental compliance certificate ( ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
He said completing a power project would take around five years, which he said should be cut to the shortest time possible.
“There were previous ( cases where) the ECC was delegated to another agency like the Laguna Lake Development Authority,” said Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella.
“So we are also looking at that (to) streamline (the process) in accordance with the instruction of the President during the SONA (State of the Nation Address) to fast-track the permitting process,” he said.
Among the projects that Mr. Cusi said should qualify as of national significance is the construction of a transmission facility that will connect the Mindanao grid to the Luzon and Visayas grids.
Privately owned system operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has said it is targeting the linking of the grids by 2020 at a cost of at least P52 billion, but it asked for the help of government agencies to hasten the issuance of permits and the resolution of right-of-way issues.
During the Senate hearing, Mr. Cusi enumerated a number of criteria for a project to qualify under the proposed executive order, such as the capital investment involved, its significant contribution to economic growth and social development, its impact on the environment and on the government’s drive to boost infrastructure development.
He added that the EO also aims to shorten the time required to issue the required licenses, business permits, clearances as well as protect key projects from temporary restraining orders and injunctions.
Mr. Fuentebella said the EO could hasten the completion of projects, but the objective would be achieved faster if there was accompanying legislation with similar measures.
Mr. Fuentebella said the issuance of the executive order would need the approval of 22 government agencies in reducing the required permitting and licensing processes.
“(The EO) is now with the Executive Secretary’s off ice,” he said.