PE2 actively participates in DOE stakeholder consultations for IRR of EE&C Act
TAGUIG CITY, 30 July 2019 – The Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) mobilized a high-level delegation to actively participate in the 1st Inter-Agency and Stakeholder Meeting on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11285: An Act Institutionalizing Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Enhancing the Efficient Use of Energy, and Granting Incentives to Energy Efficiency and Conservation Projects, also known as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Act. The meeting was convened earlier today at the Marquis Events Place by the Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Utilization and Management Bureau (EUMB).
Representing the PE2 Policy Committee were PE2 trustees Samuel West Stewart, Maria Concepcion P. Simundac, Raymond A. Marquez, Jose O. de Jesus and Jagannathan Srinivasan. PE2’s sub-team for demand-side management was composed of Danilo B. Aquillo, Mark Anthony T. Delumen and Rhonniel M. Caringal. Supporting the PE2 delegation were Lester Philip Lualhati, Efren R. Resurreccion and Luigi G. Eusebio. Some of the aforementioned PE2 representatives were directly registered by DOE.
The PE2 delegation echoed the PE2 comments which were officially transmitted to DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on 26 July 2019. These comments covered observations and recommendations on IRR rules pertaining to Government energy efficiency projects, demand-side management, energy performance standards and labeling, certification of professionals and energy service companies (ESCOs), designated establishments, and incentives.
The major PE2 recommendations in its 14-page letter to the DOE include: categorization of ESCOs in the certification process, incorporation of the BOI guidelines in the IRR for fiscal incentives, inclusion of information and communication technology concerns (e.g. cloud-based solutions) in government EE projects, specificity in how government procurement and financing modalities may be expanded, and the initial comments on the draft DOE circular on IRR mandating the implementation of the demand side management program. Comments were also made on the certification of professionals, energy performance standards and obligations of designated establishments.
DOE is the lead agency mandated by the EE&C Act to develop the IRR. DOE has hosted Inter-Agency meetings on 21 June 2019 and 10 July 2019 with the formation of the different groups composed of the representatives from the Senate Committee on Energy and the other relevant government agencies that shall work on the different chapters and sections of the Act. The 1st Inter-Agency and Stakeholder Meeting held today broadened the consultations to capture the comments and inputs of non-governmental energy efficiency market stakeholders. On 25 July 2019, DOE invited PE2 president Alexander Ablaza to send an official PE2 delegation of 7 representatives.
The PE2 comments on the IRR were prepared by the PE2 Policy Committee. Chaired by PE2 president Alexander Ablaza, the PE2 Policy Committee thematic leads include Theresa Acedillo Lapuz, Danilo B. Aquillo, Richard Henrick I. Beltran, Mark Anthony T. Delumen, Bienvenido C. Gonzales, Raymond A. Marquez, Maria Concepcion P. Simundac and Samuel West Stewart. The Sub-committee on ESCO certification is composed of Raymond A. Marquez (lead), Jose O. de Jesus, Ronaldo R. Torres, and Richard A. Uy. The Sub-committee on the Inter-Agency EE&C Committee and Government Energy Efficiency Projects is composed of Theresa Acedillo Lapuz (lead), Felix Richard A. Cordova and Jagannathan Srinivisan.
