TAGUIG CITY – The Department of Energy (DOE), through the Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB), and the Green Energy Auction (GEA) Committee, conducted a two-day Public Consultation on draft Department Circulars (DC) entitled, “Providing the Guidelines for the Green Energy Auction Program in the Philippines” and “Amending Section 13 (E) and Section 18 (C) of Department Circular No. DC2009-05-0008 entitled, Implementing Rules and Regulation of Republic Act (RA) No. 9513” which took place virtually on 5 and 6 August 2021 for Luzon-Visayas leg and Mindanao leg, respectively.
Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, “As the need for RE increases, we ardently continue to pursue our RE initiatives in achieving a Clean Energy Scenario. I am confident that the enhanced GEAP guidelines and amendments will further bring us closer to our goal”.
These two policies are aimed at increasing the RE Program particularly in achieving the Government’s aspirational target of attaining 35% RE share in the Generation Mix by 2030 and works to drive to greater than 50% by 2040, dominating the generation mix.
“We have decided to come up with a more practical, proven, and effective framework to facilitate increase investment in the RE capacities through a level-playing field that would result to attainment of transparent and competitive rates.” Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) Director Mylene C. Capongcol said.
The purpose of the new guidelines on GEAP is to provide immediate and timely investments, support the development of, and increase access to financing for new or additional capacities under a competitive process, as well as implement programs that promotes clean and sustainable environment. The DOE through the GEA Committee aims to conduct the First Round Bid in October 2021.
The GEA Committee Chairperson, Assistant Secretary Redentor E. Delola said, “One of the things that we’ve discussed within the DOE is actually try to improve on the GEAP to hit our targets using existing mechanisms that will increase the share of RE in the market, increase the available supply of power in the grid, and at the same time will increase the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) allocation of the Distribution Utilities (DUs).”
The other draft DC on RA 9513 IRR Amendments was to address the long-standing outstanding concerns raised by RE Developers and fabricators, manufacturers, and others target recipients on the implementation of the tax provisions especially on the automatic availment of the 10% Corporate Income Tax and Zero -Rate VAT, as well as other incentives in the RE Law. Moreover, ensuring that all fiscal incentives are properly availed of thru an efficient government process.
The public consultations were led by the GEAC Chairperson, Assistant Secretary Redentor E. Delola and REMB Director Mylene C. Capongcol as Keynote Speakers together with Assistant Director Marissa P. Cerezo, and REMB Division Chiefs as Panelists. A total of 1,001 participants attended the the two (2)-day consultation, 713 from Luzon-Visayas leg, and 288 from Mindanao leg.
REMB Assistant Director Cerezo, in her closing remarks, thanked all the participants and expressed her appreciation for all the comments, inputs, and questions shared by the participants. She further reiterated that the Department is targeting to finalize the Guidelines within the month of August.
The conduct of this public consultation was made possible with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development – Energy Secure Philippines (USAID-ESP).
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