RENEWED PARTNERSHIP: Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and University of the Philippines Statistical Center Research Foundation, Inc. (UPSCRFI) President Gervacio Selda Jr. signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) today (29 April) that formalizes the implementation for the second phase of the Gas Policy Development Project (GPDP 2).
The MOA aims to continue the efforts and initiatives of GPDP 1 in strengthening the capacity of the DOE in implementing Department Circular No. 2017-11-0012: The Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Regulation (PDNGR).
Also present during the virtual signing ceremony were DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos and Assistant Secretary Leonido J. Pulido III; Ambassador Virginia E. Palmer, US Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources; Dr. Joseph Lansangan, Executive Director of UPSCRFI; Dr. Rizalinda de Leon, Project Director of GPDP 2; and other representatives of these institutions.
TAGUIG CITY – The Department of Energy (DOE) and the University of the Philippines Statistical Center Research Foundation, Inc. (UPSCRFI) today inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the second phase of the Gas Policy Development Project (GPDP 2), following the success of the first GPDP initiative.
Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi welcomed the renewed partnership and looked forward to the technical assistance that GPDP 2 will be providing, including capacity building, research activities, and policy development to boost the country’s natural gas sector.
“We are hopeful that this particular undertaking will be the beginning of more collaboration with the US government to further solidify our partnership, with our American friends helping us attain our energy goals for the country,” Secretary Cusi said.
He added that “a robust natural gas industry is crucial to ensuring a secure and sustainable energy future for the Philippines”.
‘We would like to see a thriving LNG industry – one where we will have been able to expand our supply source, develop the market to go beyond power generation, establish critical infrastructure capable of delivering gas to demand centers, and one where we will have been able to pursue public-private partnerships to support our natural gas goals,” the Energy chief emphasized.
The first phase of GPDP was implemented from September 2018 to January 2020 and provided technical assistance to the DOE in the implementation of the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Regulation (PDNGR) (Department Circular 2017-11-0012). With the help of the program’s team of experts, the Project produced several milestones for the Philippine energy sector during its 16-month implementation.
“We were able to craft an Investor’s Guide, Financial and Technical Recommendations for Review of Applications, and the Research Study on Market Profiling with Emphasis on the Use of Liquefied Natural Gas to Power Economic Zones,” Secretary Cusi noted as he lauded the GPDP team for its previous accomplishments.
For UPSCRFI’s part, its President, Dr. Gervacio Selda Jr. reiterated the Foundation’s continued support to the DOE in its efforts to transform the Philippine natural gas landscape.
“UPSCRFI aims to continue providing technical guidance and research to the DOE and other partner government agencies to support the formulation of standards, policies, and roadmaps which are envisioned to usher in more investments, facilitate healthy competition in the LNG industry, and ultimately provide long-term energy security for the country,” Dr. Selda stated.
From the United States, Acting Assistant Secretary of State Virginia Palmer reaffirmed commitment to the U.S.-Philippines energy relationship and Philippine energy security.
As part of the newly signed agreement, the UPSCRFI, through GPDP 2, is expected to update the Natural Gas Industry Roadmap with the DOE. Said Roadmap is expected to set the course on the advancement of the PDNGR.
Also present in the event were DOE Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos and Assistant Secretary Leonido J. Pulido, III; Dr. Joseph Lansangan, Executive Director of UPSCRFI; Dr. Rizalinda de Leon, Project Director of GPDP 2; and other representatives of these institutions.
The GPDP 2 is implemented by the UPSCRFI under the general theme, Energy Policy and Development Program II, through a cooperative agreement entered with the U.S. Department of State (USDS) in September 2020 under the U.S. Asia EDGE (Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy) initiative.
The Project covers capacity-building activities, the provision of technical advice and guidance to implement PDNGR, conduct of research on natural gas industry in the Philippines, and assistance in the improvement of PDNGR-related policies.
###
