Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _8337

Introduced by Honorable Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There was a time when the cost of developing alternative sources
of energy, particularly solar energy, was so prohibitive that policy-makers
simply found it unfeasible to explore as a viable replacement for oil and
coal. However, in view of the growing awareness of the need to reduce
our carbon footprint, the political volatility of oil and its certain depletion
in the near future, as well as the inherent risks attendant to nuclear power,
an increasing number of countries, led by Germany, is proving that solar
and other renewable sources of energy are becoming economically
feasible.

While the country today has many hydroelectric plants, geothermal
plants which are among the biggest in the world, and even an incipient
wind energy installation, these alternative sources of energy are far from
being sufficient to meet our ever growing need for power. For several
years now, the Philippines has been registering one of the fastest GDP
growth in the entire world and it stands to reason that we explore
additional sources of energy if only to sustain the robust economic
growth that we have been enjoying. As a tropical country, it is also but
logical that we explore the sun as an abundant and practically
inexhaustible source of our energy needs.

In the Philippines, it appears that the private sector is taking the
lead in developing and promoting the use of solar energy as an alternative
to fossil and other “dirty” fuels. There is therefore a need to come up with
a regulatory regime and coherent policies and strategies with respect to
this relatively new economic and scientific development. The
establishment of one agency that would be responsible for the promotion
of solar energy would represent a giant step towards the attainment of the


country’s goals of achieving energy independence and environmentally-
sound policies.

In view of all the foregoing considerations, the early approval of

this bill is earnestly requested.
M. eatie

tative
econd District of Laguna



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 8337

Introduced by Honorable Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr.

AN ACT
CREATING THE SOLAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. There is hereby created the Solar Energy
Development Authority, hereinafter referred to as the “Authority”, which
shall undertake to do research and promote the development and

utilization of solar energy.

SEC. 2. The powers and functions of the Authority shall be vested
in a Board of Directors consisting of a Chairman and four (4) members
who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the
confirmation of the Commission on Appointments. The Chairman and
two (2) members shall serve for a term of four (4) years, while the
remaining two (2) members shall be ex-officio members, who shall be
composed of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources and the

Secretary of Science and Technology, or their representatives. They shall


receive compensation as may be fixed by the President of the Philippines
which shall not exceed those given to Commissioners of Constitutional
bodies. No person shall be appointed Chairman or members of the board
unless he is a natural born Filipino citizen, at least thirty (30) years of
age, of good moral character and must have recognized competence in the

fields of science and technology.

SEC. 3. The Board of Directors shall have the following duties and
responsibilities:

a) Prepare and issue rules and regulations it considers necessary for
the effective discharge of its functions;

b) Direct the management, operations and administration of the
Authority;

c) Adopt and use a corporate seal;

d) Enter into contracts and other agreements;

e) Sue and be sued;

f) Appoint such officers and employees as are not otherwise
provided for in this Act, define their duties, fix their compensation,
discipline and dismiss anyone of them for cause, subject to civil service
rules and regulations; and

g) Exercise such incidental powers as shall be necessary to carry

out the functions of the Authority.


SEC. 4. The Authority shall have the following powers and
functions:

a) Conduct extensive research on alternative sources of energy;

b) Formulate a comprehensive policy for the research, development
and utilization of alternative sources of energy;

c) Implement the government program on the allocation,
distribution and sale of alternative sources of energy; and

d) Perform such other powers and functions as may be necessary to

carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 5. The Chairman shall be the Chief Operation Officer. In case
of absence or inability to act on the part of the chairman, the Board shall

designate who among its members shall act as Chairman.

SEC. 6. The amount necessary for the effective implementation of
this Act shall be charged to the appropriation of the Department of
Science and Technology under the current General Appropriations Act.
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continuous operation
of the Authority shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 7. The Secretary of Science and Technology shall promulgate
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this Act.


SEC. 8. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of

this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved,