SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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'•■S.’ J- tO ffi.v of ( j, '*•! .
*17 
AUG 3 0  
P 3 : 4 2
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1574
R tC E lV ta U'. .
Prepared and su b m itted  by th e  C om m ittees on E nergy, Science and 
Technology, an d  Finance w ith S en ato r G atchalian as a u th o r th e re o f
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ENERGY RESEARCH AND POLICY 
INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assem bled:
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SECTION 1. 
T itle. -  This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Energy
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Research and Policy Institute Act of 2017”.
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SECTION 2. D eclaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the
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State to ensure energy security, equity, and sustainability. Towards this end,
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it is also the policy of the State to enhance knowledge in recent developments
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and scientific breakthroughs in the field of energy; identify key policy areas,
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issues, and challenges in the country’s energy sector; and formulate
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m ultidisciplinary research-based policies and strategies for the cost-effective
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use of energy resources towards environm entally-sound energy development.
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SECTION 3. E stab lish m en t o f th e  Philippine Energy R esearch and Policy
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In stitu te . - 
P ursuant to the national policy of enhancing the country’s
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capability for energy research and policy development, there is hereby


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established in the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, a Philippine
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Energy Research and Policy Institute, hereinafter referred to as the Institute.
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SECTION 4. O bjectives of th e In stitu te . -  The objectives of the Institute are:
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a) To conduct pertinent policy research on energy issues and ensure the
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coordination and timely dissem ination of results to key government
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agencies to guide policy and decision-m aking processes;
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b) To provide timely technical assistance to the governm ent on energy
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issues needing policy direction and advice;
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c) To contribute strategic assistance to the governm ent on energy policy
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issues and other related m atters;
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d) To promote collaborative and m ultidisciplinary energy research and
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policy development am ong the academ e, and public and private
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stakeholders;
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e) To establish m echanism s for the dissem ination and utilization of
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research and policy development outputs;
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f) To create and adm inister training program s and provide fellowship
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grants intended to build the capacity of governm ent agencies, public and
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private energy stakeholders, and the academ e including graduate and
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post-graduate students; and
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g) To serve as a m edium  in bringing together local and international experts
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in the field of energy through local and international linkages.
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SECTION 5. F u n ctio n s an d  Pow ers of th e  In stitu te . -  The Institute’s
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functions and powers shall include but not be limited to:
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a) Form ulating and conducting research and development on energy, public
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policy issues in energy m arkets, and other pressing issues and problems,
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all backed by rigorous empirical evidence;
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b) Establishing research and policy development program s and capacity-
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building trainings on energy;
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c) Providing common research support facilities while maximizing the
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utilization of its expert support staff;
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d) Enhancing the m asters and doctoral pool of researchers and faculty in
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the field of energy;


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e) Establishing local and foreign linkages in energy research and policy 
development;
f) Serving as the repository of all energy-related researches and studies to 
be generated by the Institute as well as academ ic, public, and private 
groups, organizations, and institutions;
g) Proposing and allocating its smnual budgetary resources while optimizing 
resource generation and utilization;
h) Investing its funds in such undertaking as it may deem wise or necessary 
to carry out its objectives, with due consideration to existing guidelines 
on investing government funds in coordination with the B ureau of 
Treasury; and
i) Receiving and m anaging grants, aid, donations or any kind of assistance 
for achieving its objectives, in accordance with the rules and regulations 
of UP.
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The Advisory Council may give additional powers eind functions to the
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Institute Provided: That it shall be in accordance with the objectives of the
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Institute as stated in this Act.
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SECTION 6. O rganizational S tru ctu re. -  The Institute shall be headed by an 
Executive Director who shall report directly to the Advisory Council. 
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Institute shall be supported by a M anagem ent Committee and Research 
Fellows in carrying out its functions.
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SECTION 7. The E xecutive D irector. -  The Executive Director shall be a 
recognized expert in energy research and policy development and shall have a 
strong organizational m anagem ent background. The UP Board of Regents shall 
appoint the Executive Director upon the recom m endation of the UP President 
60 days after the prom ulgation of this Act: Provided, That such Executive 
Director shall serve for a term  of five (5) years which can be renewed for 
another five (5) years.
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SECTION 8. F u n ctio n s and Pow ers o f th e E xecutive D irector.— The
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Executive Director of the Institute shall:


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a) Exercise adm inistrative and supervisory functions over the planning, 
im plementation, and evaluation of the policies, program s, and projects of 
the Institute;
b) Im plement and enforce policies, decisions, orders, rules and regulations 
adopted by the Advisory Council;
c) Recommend to the UP Board of Regents, upon endorsem ent of the 
Advisory Council, the creation of divisions and sections of the Institute 
including the position classification and com pensation plan of its 
employees;
d) Recommend to the UP Board of Regents, upon endorsem ent of the 
Advisory Council, the appointm ent of the M anagem ent Committee 
m em bers, research fellows, officers and employees of the Institute;
e) Recommend to the Board of Regents, upon recom m endation of the 
Advisory Council, the overall budget of the Institute;
f) Within the limits of the authority delegated to him by the Advisory 
Council, execute contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose of 
assets, and deliver docum ents on behalf of the Institute; and
g) Exercise such other powers and functions and perform such other duties 
as may be authorized or assigned by the Advisory Council.
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SECTION 9. A dvisory C ouncil o f th e In stitu te . -  There shall be an Advisory 
Council of the Institute to be composed of the following:
a) Chancellor of UP Diliman as the Chairperson;
b) Dean of the UP College of Engineering;
c) Dean of the UP College of Law;
d) Dean of the UP College of Science;
e) Dean of the UP School of Statistics;
f) Dean of the UP School of Economics; and
g) One (1) other m em ber who is a recognized expert in energy research and 
policy development to be appointed by the UP Board of Regents upon 
recom m endation of the UP President.
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The Executive Director shall concurrently serve as a non-voting
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M ember-Secretary of the Advisory Council. The Chancellor of UP Diliman, and
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the Deans of the College of Engineering, College of Law, College of Science,


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School of Statistics, and School of Economics shall serve in an ex-officio
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capacity. The one other m em ber shall serve for a term  of two (2) years.
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SECTION 10. F u n ctio n s and Pow ers of th e  A dvisory C ouncil. -  The Advisory
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Council shall:
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1. Determine the general direction and priorities of the Institute in 
accordance with this Act;
2. Determine research and policy areas for study and investigation by the 
Institute based on its evaluation of the energy policy landscape including 
the needs and dem ands of the country and the people;
3. Provide advice to the Institute on any m atter relating to the development 
of a research a n d /o r policy area and the adm inistration of research and 
policy programs;
4. Provide advice to the Institute on m atters relating to the position 
classification and com pensation plans of the employees of the Institute 
in coordination with the D epartm ent of Budget and Management;
5. Endorse to the UP Board of Regents the recom mended divisions and 
sections of the Institute including the position classification and 
com pensation plans of its employees;
6. Endorse to the UP Board of Regents the recom m ended M anagem ent 
Committee m em bers, research fellows, officers, and employees of the 
Institute;
7. Endorse to the UP Board of Regents the Institute’s overall budget as 
recom mended by the Executive Director;
8. Generate resources and obtain logistical and financial support for the 
program s and com ponent units of the Institute: Provided, That in so 
doing, no conflict-of-interest exists with the objectives of this Act and the 
functions of the Institute;
9. Monitor and review all the activities and operations of the Institute as 
implemented by the Executive Director; and
10. Authorize a n d /o r assign additional powers, functions, and duties to the 
Executive Director in accordance with the objectives of this Act.
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SECTION 11. A ppointm ent o f Faculty and Staff. — The hum an resource 
complement of the Institute shall be organized and set-up by the Executive 
Director in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the existing rules and 
regulations of UP, and upon approval by the UP Board of Regents.
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SECTION 12. Public A ccess. -  The public and other energy institutions shall 
have access to the research findings, facilities, and other resources of the 
Institute, as provided in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act: 
Provided, it is in accordance with Section 13 of this Act.
SECTION 
13. C onfidentiality. -  The Institute shall not disclose any 
proprietary a n d /o r 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.
SECTION 14. E ndow m ent Fund. -  An Endowm ent Fund is hereby established 
for the support of the Institute, including the purchase of research equipm ent 
and facilities, com pensation and honoraria to researchers, w hether in 
government service or otherwise, and such other necessaiy expenses to carry 
out the purpose of this Act.
The Institute is authorized to accept into its Endowm ent Fund any 
contributions, donations, bequests, grants, and loans from dom estic a n d /o r 
foreign sources, government appropriations and other incomes accruing from 
the operations of the Institute, for purposes of executing its m andate and 
functions: Provided, That in so doing, no conflict-of-interest exists with the 
objectives of this Act and the functions of the Institute.
For the organizational and operational requirem ents of the Institute, 
there is hereby appropriated out of the General Appropriations Act, the sum  of 
Two Hundred Million Pesos (P200,000,000.00) for the initial operating fund of 
the Institute. 
Thereafter, an annual am ount of Two H undred Million Pesos 
(P200,000,000.00) will be appropriated from the General Appropriations Act to 
support the research, policy development, and training program s of the 
Institute. This am ount will be assessed annually and increased, if necessary.


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based on the annual financial plan approved by the UP Board of Regents and
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subm itted to the D epartm ent of Budget and M anagement.
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SECTION 15. Tax E xem ptions. -  The Institute shall be entitled to all the tax
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exem ptions enum erated under Section 25 of Republic Act No. 9500 or the
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University of the Philippines C harter of 2008.
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SECTION 16. Im plem enting R ules an d  R egulations. -  W ithin sixty 60 days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Institute, in consultation with its Advisory 
Council and subject to the approval of the Board of Regents, shall prom ulgate 
the necessary implementing rules and regulations of this Act.
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SECTION 17. S eparability Clause. -  If, for any reason, any provision of this
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Act is declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof
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which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force or effect.
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SECTION 18. R epealing C lause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
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regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with or contrary to the
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provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, am ended or modified accordingly.
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SECTION 19. E ffectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in at least two (2) national new spapers of general circulation.
Approved.