MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a law to establish the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute in order to strengthen the country’s capacity for energy research and policy development.
Republic Act 11572, signed by Duterte on July 30, creates the institute as an independent agency connected to the University of the Philippines (UP) with its own budget.
According to the new law, the institute’s executive director must be a renowned expert in energy research and policy development with at least three years of experience in the energy industry and a strong organizational management background.
The executive director, who is appointed by the UP President on the recommendation of the Executive Board, will serve in a full-time capacity for a five-year term that can be renewed.
The Executive Board of the institute shall be composed of seven members, including the UP President as ex-officio chairperson, and at least one representative from the fields of engineering, law, science, statistics, economics, social science, and public health, either from academe or the private sector.
Four members will come from academe, two from the private sector, and each representative will come from a different field.
The UP President will appoint the other members of the Executive Board. Each member will serve a three-year term that can be extended for two more terms.
The first two appointees from academia and the first appointee from the private sector will be appointed for a two-year term that can be renewed for two more terms.
During its meetings and discussions, the Executive Board may call the secretaries of various government agencies, as well as legitimate consumer and advocacy groups, to serve as resource persons.
The institute will fund further education and training for its officers and employees, such as advanced degree studies, short-term programs, online courses, and conference participation.
The public will be able to access research papers, data, and other resources via the organization’s website.
However, proprietary or confidential data and other resources cannot be posted or released unless the inquiring party obtains prior approval from the source or owner of such data and resources.
To fund the institute’s research, a Special Account in the General Fund (SAGP) for energy research will be established, which will be maintained and managed by the Bureau of Treasury.
The SAGF for energy research is responsible for recognizing and accepting grants, contributions, and donations collected for energy research.
A total of PHP200 million will be appropriated from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the institute’s initial operating fund.
Such amounts are needed for the institute’s long-term operations shall be appropriated from the GAA in accordance with the yearly financial plan approved by the Executive Board and submitted to the Department of Budget and Management.
Government agencies involved are allowed to provide sufficient funds in their respective annual budgets as their contribution to the funding of particular research activities at the institute.
The UP, in collaboration with members of the academe and other public and private stakeholders, shall adopt the relevant implementing rules and regulations of the act within 90 calendar days from the effectivity of the act, subject to the approval of the UP Board of Regents.
