NEDA urged to elevate status of energy projects

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) is urging the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to declare energy-related vital facilities as part of projects of national significance.

DOE director Zenaida Monsada said the DOE is still keen on convincing the NEDA on the importance of their recommendation.

“(Energy) Secretary Angelo Reyes is still following it up with NEDA,” the DOE official said.

This proposal was actually being asked by then Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and still being pursued up to now by Reyes.

Reyes, taking cue from the Pandacan case, echoed Lotilla’s call and wrote NEDA to urge it to declare these vital energy installations and facilities as projects of national significance.

If declared, these projects will be exempted from all local government ordinances.

When asked what was NEDA’s reaction to the DOE’s letter, NEDA director general Ralph Recto said it is not the jurisdiction of his agency to make such declaration. The authority lies in the President with regard to her Police Power and not with NEDA. The authority is with the President and not with NEDA. We do not have the authority, the authority resides in the President,” Recto said.

Asked if he would recommend it to Malacanang, Recto said, “We have to further study that, we have not done policy homework on this as well.”

But Reyes insisted that an Executive Order authorizes NEDA to make such declaration. “That phrase of declaring it projects of national significance is in EO 72. And it’s in the EO that Neda has that power. Since it’s an Executive Order, maybe what’s he’s saying it should be subject of a law rather than an Executive Order,” Reyes said.

Various business groups have supported the DOE’s recommendation to declare energy-related projects part of areas to be considered with national significance.

The Foreign Chambers Council of the Philippines said the government should study carefully these vital projects and how they are protected.