CAVITE PROVINCE - The Department of Energy (DOE) is currently in Cavite to continue its assessment in the energy situation of the city and in its affected towns due to the eruption of Taal Volcano earlier this week.

Headed by Assistant Secretary Robert B. Uy and Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB) Director Mario C. Marasigan, the assessment team visited the evacuation centers in the municipalities of Cavite to assess the overall situation of the evacuees.

1.    How and why did IEMOP get the deal to manage and operate the WESM?

By virtue of the enactment of DOE Department Circular 2018-01-0002 dated 17 January 2018 and consequently the IMO Transition Plan which are based on Section 30 of the EPIRA which were jointly approved by the Department of Energy and the Electric Power Participants.

2.    Is a competitive selection process required?

Competitive bidding was required only for foreign participants as an option under the EPIRA if the IMO was created in 2007. 

The DOE opted to create a separate entity composed of Filipinos who have acquired the necessary expertise to operate the WESM and ensure that the market will be managed by Filipinos.

3.    Is 50 centavos the amount being collected by IEMOP?

NO.

The collection is less than one (1) centavo. 

4.   Is it a sweetheart deal?

NO.

It is not.

A Transition Plan was followed which was in accordance with law. 

5.    Why was IEMOP incorporated? 

The IEMOP incorporation was approved pursuant  to the approved transition plan jointly endorsed by DOE and stakeholders and as outlined under the Department Circular.

6.    Does IEMOP have experience in operating the Market?

YES.

The system was transferred to IEMOP based on the Operating Agreement between PEMC and IEMOP dated 18 September 2018 and people running the system were disengaged from PEMC and hired by IEMOP.

Hence, IEMOP was a “spin off” of PEMC towards independence in market operations. 

PEMC used to perform the market operations, with the DOE Secretary as Chair and most of the Board Members coming from the power industry. 

Sec. Cusi gave up the chairmanship on the condition that the market operations be performed by an independent corporation with the necessary experience and expertise. 

Thus, with the endorsement of the industry players as required by EPIRA, Sec. Cusi issued D.C. No. DC2018-01-0002. The House of Representatives, the Senate and the Joint Congressional Energy Commission (formerly JCPC) was given a report on all these steps that were made.
  
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BATANGAS PROVINCE - The Department of Energy (DOE) is currently in Batangas to assess the energy situation and extend all the assistance necessary in the towns affected by the eruption of the Taal Volcano earlier this week.

Visits were made to various schools, city center, barangay halls and gymnasium which serve as evacuation centers.

Assistant Secretary Robert B. Uy and Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB) Director Mario C. Marasigan headed the DOE contingent, which was composed of teams led by Power Market Supervising Antonio Barcelona, OIC Division Chief Marc Louie Olap, and Senior Science Research Specialist Mark Christian Marollano with technical bureau personnel.

Meetings with officials from the local government unit (LGU) of Sto. Tomas Batangas, including Municipal Mayor Edna Padilla-Sanchez, as well as evacuation center officials and volunteers were held to get the most updated information on the various LGU's needs.

There were also discussions to help ensure that no predatory practices, such as overpricing of petroleum products are taking place in the area. 

It may be recalled that the entire provinces of Batangas and Cavite have been placed under the State of Calamity (SOC), thereby putting a price freeze on household liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene products for 15 days upon the SOC's declaration.

Other areas affected by Taal's eruption such as Tanauan, Batangas and Tagaytay Cities will also be visited by the Department tomorrow (18 January) and Sunday (19 January). 

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Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi (center) in a meeting with NCIP Chairperson Allen A. Capuyan (bottom, right) and DOE Assistant Secretary Robert B. Uy (bottom, left), Renewable Energy Management Bureau Director Mylene C. Capongcol and Investment Promotions Office Chief Lisa S. Go.

TAGUIG CITY - Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi met with National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Chairperson Allen A. Capuyan to discuss the issues involving delays in securing permits for energy projects.

Secretary Cusi said that this is in line with the mechanisms being put in place by the DOE to ensure that energy projects will come in on time, in support of the country’s goals for economic and infrastructure development. 

Under Republic Act 8371, or the “The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997”, all project developers are required to secure from the NCIP, Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and other clearances from the indigenous communities inhabiting the area where the project will be situated.

“It is very important that we work on how we can promote our indigenous resources, and we hope that by forging a stronger working relationship with the NCIP, we will be able to address the issues causing delays in securing clearances from their office,” Secretary Cusi said. 

During the meeting, the Energy Chief also emphasized the importance of proper coordination among concerned government agencies, project proponents and indigenous communities in the utilization and development of natural resources.

The DOE and NCIP agreed to establish a Technical Working Group for the close coordination and streamlining of processes, such as drafting a checklist/template in evaluating energy projects.

Prior to this meeting, the DOE has been striving to establish a more rationalized business environment for the energy sector. With this goal, the DOE has initiated the issuance of Executive Order 30, which declares big-ticket energy projects to be of national significance, and giving these projects a processing time of 30 days.

Secretary Cusi is also the Vice-Chairperson of the Steering Committee for the Energy Virtual One Stop Shop Act or Republic Act 11234, which streamlines the permitting process of energy projects. The DOE likewise serves as the Committee's Secretariat.

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TAGUIG CITY – Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) of MIMAROPA, Alfonso G. Cusi, called for a Convergence Meeting with the officials of the Regional Development Council and the Regional Peace and Order Council, as well as the Cluster Heads of MIMAROPA's Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) on Friday (10 January) at the DOE's headquarters.



“We CORDS have been entrusted with the tall order of helping the President and the NTF-ELCAC to finally put an end to local communist armed conflict, while ensuring the sustainable development of our respective regions,” Secretary Cusi said in his welcoming remarks.



He also emphasized the significance and importance of the NTF-ELCAC, established by virtue of Executive Order No. 70 (EO 70), in ensuring the efficient and effective implementation of the Whole-of-Nation Approach for the attainment of inclusive and sustainable peace in the country, as well as a platform for good governance.



During the meeting, presentations on the current security, peace and order situation in the MIMAROPA region were given by the Peace, Law Enforcement and Development Support Cluster composed of regional units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP); as well as updates on regional activities and best practices provided by the CORDS MIMAROPA Technical Working Group.



During the open forum, concerns were raised on how to improve the effectiveness of communication between and among member agencies of the RTF, achieve true convergence of activities of member-government agencies, and the funding mechanisms to effectively implement prepared plans and strategies, particularly on the priority areas of MIMAROPA.



National Security Adviser and Vice Chairperson of the NTF-ECLAC, Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr., also provided further guidance on some issues that were deemed internal to the RTF and on external issues considered significant, but are beyond the scope of the CORDS' expressed mandate and authority.



“Our task does not end here. There are still a lot of work that lies ahead, but let us be driven by the leadership and support of the Duterte Administration to attain the objectives of EO 70 and help us eradicate the local communist armed conflict,” Sec. Cusi concluded.



Also present were DOE Undersecretary and CORDS MIMAROPA TWG Chairperson Vice Admiral Alexander S. Lopez (ret); Palawan Governor Jose C. Alvarez; the CORDS MIMAROPA TWG led by Dr. Adrianne A. Mabanta; National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro; NSA Deputy Director-General Damian L. Carlos; AFP Commander of Western Command Vice Admiral Rene Medina; AFP Acting Southern Luzon Command MGen Arnulfo Burgos; Regional Directors of NEDA, Philippine Information Agency, Department of the Interior and Local Government; the CORDS MIMAROPA TWG; and other members of the MIMAROPA Regional Task Force-ELCAC.



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