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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 1153

Introduced by Representative Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ENERGY RESEARCH AND POLICY INSTITUTE,
DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

Explanatory Note

The Philippines needs to develop a stable, sustainable, affordable, and reliable
energy supply by harnessing the latest research and technology available in order to meet
the country's growing demand for energy and the administration's long-term development
goals.

The proposed Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI) will serve
as an independent body which shall undertake trans-disciplinary research, explore and
develop the latest technologies, and provide autonomous policy output or
recommendations for the benefit of policy makers as well as private and public energy
stakeholders. Under the bill, it will be an independent policy and technology research
institution attached to the University of the Philippines headed by an Executive Director
who is a recognized expert in energy policy and research.

This bill seeks to bridge the research and policy gap in the energy sector. It
recognizes the importance of autonomous and rigorous trans-disciplinary research in
formulating sound energy policies and legislation, and thus charges the PERPI to
undertake collaborative energy policy research among the academe and energy
stakeholders; provide technical assistance to the government on energy planning and
energy issues; establish mechanisms for dissemination and utilization of research for
technology and policy development, create and administer training programs and provide
appropriate fellowship grants for capacity building of the academe and energy
stakeholders; and to serve as a medium in bringing together local and international
experts in the field of energy through local and international linkages.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is sought.

LO) JAY Q. VELASCO


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1193

Introduced by Representative Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ENERGY RESEARCH AND POLICY INSTITUTE,
DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled.

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Energy Research
and Policy Institute Act”. i

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - \t is hereby declared the policy of the State to
ensure energy security, equity, and sustainability. Towards this end, the State shall
promote the acquisition of knowledge in recent developments and scientific
breakthroughs in the field of energy; identify key policy areas, issues, and challenges in
the country's energy sector; and formulate transdisciplinary research-based policies and
strategies for the cost-effective use of energy resources towards environmentally sound
energy development.

SEC. 3. Establishment of the Philippine Energy Research and Policy
Institute. - Pursuant to the national policy of enhancing the country's capability for energy
research and policy development, there is hereby established in the University of the
Philippines (UP) a Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute, hereinafter referred
to as the Institute. The Institute shall be under the Office of the UP President.

SEC. 4. Objectives of the Institute. — The objectives of the Institute shall be

(a) To conduct pertinent policy research on energy issues and ensure the
coordination and timely dissemination of results to key government agencies to guide
policy and decision-making processes;

(b) To provide timely technical assistance to the government on energy planning
and energy issues needing policy direction and advice;

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(c) To provide strategic assistance to the government on energy policy issues and
other related matters;

(d) To promote collaborative and transdisciplinary energy research and policy
development among the academe, and public and private stakeholders;

(e) To establish mechanisms for the dissemination and utilization of research for
technology and policy development outputs;

(f) To create and administer training programs and provide fellowship grants
intended to build the capacity of government agencies, public and private stakeholders,
and the academe, including graduate and postgraduate students; and

(g) To serve as a medium in bringing together local and international experts in the
field of energy through local and international linkages.

SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the Institute. — The Institute shall have the
following powers and functions:

(a) Formulate and conduct research and development on energy technology,
public policy issues in energy markets, and other pressing issues and problems, all
backed by rigorous empirical evitlence;

(b) Establish research and policy development programs and capacity building
trainings on energy;

(c) Provide common research support facilities while maximizing the utilization of
its expert support staff,

(d) Enhance the pool of researchers and faculty with masteral and doctoral
degrees in the field of energy by providing research grants within and outside the UP
‘System;

(e) Establish local and foreign linkages in energy research and_ policy
development;

(f) Serve as the repository of all energy-related researches and studies to be
generated by the Institute as well as academic, public, and private groups, organizations,
and institutions;

(g) Propose and allocate its annual budgetary resources while optimizing resource
generation and utilization;

(h) Invest its funds in such undertaking as it may deem wise or necessary to carry
out its objectives, subject to existing guidelines on investing government funds in
coordination with the Bureau of Treasury;

(i) Receive and manages grants, aid, donations or any kind of assistance for
achieving its objectives, in accordance with the existing rules and regulations of the UP;
and

(j) Perform other powers and functions as may be given by the UP President:
Provided, That it shall be in accordance with the objectives of the Institute as stated in


this Act.

SEC. 6. Organizational Structure. - The Institute shall be headed by an Executive
Director who shall report directly to the UP President. The Institute shall be supported by
a Management Committee and a pool of research fellows in carrying out its functions.

SEC. 7. The Executive Director. - The Executive Director shall be a recognized
expert in energy research and policy development with at least three (3) years’ experience
in energy, and shall have a strong organizational management background. The
Executive Director shall be appointed by the UP President, upon the recommendation by
the Advisory Council, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act. The Executive
Director shall serve for a term of five (5) years which may be renewed once for another
five (5) years. ;

SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Executive Director. - The Executive
Director shall: /

(a) Implement and enforce policies, decisions, orders, rules and regulations
adopted by the Institute;

(b) Exercise administrative and supervisory functions over the planning,
implementation, and evaluation of the policies, programs, and projects of the Institute;

(c) Recommend to the UP President the organizational structure of the Institute,
including the position classification and compensation of employees, in coordination with
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), subject to Section 11 of this Act;

(d) Recommend to the UP President the appointment of research fellows, officers
and employees of the Institute;

(e) Recommend to the UP President the overall budget of the Institute;

(f) Submit to the UP President regular reports on the Institute;

(g) Regularly apprise the Advisory Council on the programs and projects of the
Institute; r

(h) Within the limits of the authority delegated to the Executive Director by the UP
President, execute contracts, incur obligations, and deliver documents on behalf of the
Institute; and

(i) Exercise such other powers and functions and perform such other duties as
may be authorized or assigned by the UP President upon the concurrence of the Advisory
Council and in accordance with the objectives of this Act.

SEC. 9. Advisory Council of the Institute. - There shall be an Advisory Council
to be composed of nine (9) members, which shall include the Secretary of the Department
of Energy, the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology and the Director
General of the National Economic Development Authority as ex-officio members. The
remaining six (6) members shall,be selected by the UP President each representing any
of the fields of engineering, law, science, statistics, economics, social science, and public


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health: Provided, That the three (3) members shall come from the academe and the other
three (3) members shall come from the private sector: Provided further, That the
members from the private sector shall be selected by the UP President from a short list
prepared by the ex-officio members and the members from the academe.

All members of the Council so appointed, except for the ex-officio members, shall
serve for a term of seven (7) years; Provided, That for the first appointees, the members
from the academe shall serve for four (4) years, and the members from the private sector
shall serve for three (3) years: Provided further, That any person appointed to replace a
member who has resigned, diéd, or was removed for cause shall serve only for the
unexpired portion of the term.

SEC. 10. Powers and Functions of the Advisory Council. - The Advisory
Council shall:

(a) Provide the general direction and priorities of the Institute in accordance with
this Act;

(b) Provide policy research areas for study and investigation by the Institute based
on its evaluation of the energy policy landscape including the needs and demands of the
country and the people;

(c) Provide advice to the Institute on any matter relating to the development of a
policy or research area and the administration of policy research programs;

(d) Assist in generating resources and obtain logistical and financial support for
the programs and component units of the Institute: Provided, That in so doing, no conflict-
of- interest exists against the objectives of this Act and the mandates of the Institute; and

(e) Monitor and review the programs and projects undertaken by the Executive
Director to implement and enforce research and policy direction and priorities.

SEC. 11. Organization of Human Resource Complement. - The human
resource complement of the Institute shall be organized and set-up by the Executive
Director subject to Section 8(c) of this Act and the existing rules and regulations of the
UP.

SEC. 12. Public Access. - The public and other energy institutions shall have
access to the research findings, facilities, and other resources of the Institute in a manner
as may be provided in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act subject to the
requirements of Section 13 of this Act.

SEC. 13. Confidentiality. - The Institute shall not disclose any proprietary or
confidential data and other resources unless prior consent of the source or owner of such
data and resources has been obtained by the requesting party.

SEC. 14. Endowment Fund. - An Endowment Fund is hereby established to be
managed and maintained by the Institute to finance the operations of the Institute,
including the purchase of research equipment and facilities, compensation and honoraria


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of researchers, whether in government service or otherwise, and such other expenses
necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act.

The Institute is hereby authorized to accept into its Endowment Fund contributions,
donations, bequests, grants, and loans from domestic and/or foreign sources,
government appropriations and other incomes accruing from the operations of the
Institute, subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations, for purposes
of effectively executing its mandate and functions: Provided, That in so doing, no conflict-
of-interest exists against the objectives of this Act and the mandates of the Institute.

In order to support the Institute, an additional amount of one percent (1%), but in
no case lower than Ten pesos (P10.00), of each energy related fee and charge imposed
by the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, and National
Electrification Administration shall be collected by the respective agencies and units for
each application, registration, renewal, endorsement, processing and other related
services for which the collection of fees and charges are allowed by law and rules and
regulations. Such additional amounts shall, upon collection, be remitted immediately to
the UP and shall form part of the Endowment Fund.

SEC. 15. Appropriations. - The sum of Two hundred million (P200,000,000.00)
pesos necessary for the initial operationalization of the Institute shall be appropriated out
of the General Fund. In case such amount is not sufficient to cover the operational
expenses of the Institute, the deficit shall be charged against the appropriation of the
current fiscal year and other internal funds of the UP System. Thereafter, the amount
necessary for the continued operation of the Institute shall be assessed annually, and
increased if necessary, based on the annual financial plan and included in the annual
budget proposal of the UP System.

SEC. 16. Tax Exemptions. - The Institute shall be entitled to all the tax exemptions
enumerated under Section 25 of Republic Act No. 9500, otherwise known as the
“University of the Philippines Charter of 2008”, as amended by Section 13 of Republic Act
No. 10963, otherwise known as the “Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN)”.

SEC. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the University of the Philippines shall, in consultation with the
Department of Energy, the Department of Science and Technology, the National
Economic Development Authority, the academe, and other public and private
stakeholders, promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations of this Act,
subject to the approval of the Board of Regents.

SEC. 18. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 19. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or


parts thereof which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly

SEC. 20. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,