NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
72 JUL12 All :47
SENATE
S.B. No. 378
RECEIV ED BY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVERO >
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE SOLAR HOME SYSTEMS FINANCING FOR SOCIAL 
HOUSING PROGRAM, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In a number of studies conducted in resettlement sites, problems with power 
connections were frequently mentioned, among other concerns of the residents. One 
extensive study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in 
20131 noted that 90% occupancy is the usual requirement of utility companies prior to 
connections. Utility service is part of the housing subsidy support of the National Housing 
Authority (NHA). However, in terms of power service, the NHA only provides either power 
generators for temporary power utility or advance payment to utility companies to 
facilitate individual household connections.2
The same review presented nine (9) case studies on the different levels of access 
to electricity among resettlement sites residents: 2 sites (1 in-city end 1 off-site) had 
available electricity and was accessible to residents; 1 in-city site had some of its portions 
without power connections at the time; 1 off-city site was using individual power supply; 
and 3 sites were using generators with electricity rationed at 5 hours, 4 hours, and 
nighttime only, respectively. In addition to the latter, residents had been staying h 
respective sites for 3 years, 2 years, and 15 years respectively.3 Power connections may 
have improved in these sites after a few more years but residents need not suffer 
difficulties due to lack, if not total absence, of electricity—especially If they live In an area 
covered by a utility franchise.
'Ballesteros, Marife M.; Egana, Jasmine V. (2013): Efficiency and Effectiveness Review of the National Housing Authority 
(NHA) Resettlement Program, PIDS Discussion Paper Series, No, 2013-28, Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), 
Makati City.
2 Ibid. pp. 12-13
3 Ibid. pp. 57-58


On the other hand, aside from lack of jobs, the absence of power and water 
services have always been cited as primary concerns why informal settler families (ISFs) 
reject being relocated immediately into their assigned relocation areas until such time as 
these essential services are put in place.
Access to electricity is a serious problem for the poor, especially those living in 
remote rural areas and in small islands. World Bank data on access to electricity among 
the rural population shows that in 2019, of 23 countries and territories in Asia, the 
Philippines ranked eighth from the bottom. (It was ahead of Cambodia, Timor-Leste and 
Myanmar In Southeast Asia, North Korea in East Asia, and Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh 
in South Asia.) There are still an estimated 4.7 million Filipinos who do not enjoy electricity 
at home. (World Bank information for 2019)
Yet even for the poor who live in urban cities, affording electricity is as well a 
serious problem. Official statistics on 2018 family expenditures by income class show that 
families earning below PhP60,000 a year spent an average PhP4,170 on water, electricity, 
gas and other fuels. In contrast, families earning over half a million nesos a year spent 
an average PhP44,352 for the same expense group, fhe rich poor gap for water, 
electricity, gas and other fuels Is 10.64—more than the rich-poor gap on food expenses 
that same year (6.56).
Poor families in 2018 earning below PhP60,000 a year spent nine percent of their 
total budget on water, electricity, gas and other fuels. These expenditures ate up 4.1 
percent of their household income. Compare this with 2.5 percent in the US and one 
percent In Japan.
In recent years, the cost of solar has been declining. This should benefit poor 
households and communities. Accessibility to renewable energy (RE) technologies such 
as solar enhance affordability and efficiency of power services to peoples and 
communities. It also has the potential of reducing electricity costs for residents overtime. 
Moreover, it helps address climate change issues such as reduction of greenhouse gas 
emissions.
Social housing financing projects provide a unique opportunity for RE installations, 
particularly, solar home systems, not only through potential scale of implementation sites.


but also in reducing the social and financial costs to ISFs and displaced families. However, 
turning to RE and energy efficiency (EF) requires up-front investment which poor Filipinos 
cannot afford. The government can help defray this initial cost by establishing renewable 
energy financing programs that leverage and augment existing RE financing options that 
are not accessible to the less privileged.
This bill, thus, aims to establish a solar home system financing program that shall 
be integrated into social housing financing programs payable In 25-30 years. The program 
is designed for the socialized housing sector who usually does not qualify In existing 
renewable energy loan packages. It aims to bring the benefits of solar to poor families 
and communities while generating long-term employment for repair and maintenance of 
solar rooftops systems.
As such, the immediate passage of this bill Is earnestly sought.
RISA HO^JTIVEROS 0
Senator


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
!§>rnatt
©ffici' o( tl)C ^rcretni-p
*22 JUL 12 All :47
SENATE
S.B. No. 378
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE SOLAR HOME SYSTEM FINANCING FOR SOCIAL HOUSING 
PROGRAM, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress 
assembied:
1 
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the 'Solar Home System
2 
Financing for Sociai Housing Program Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Deciaration of Poiicy. - The Constitution mandates that the State shall
4 
protect and promote the right of people to decent housing with basic services at
5 
affordable cost. The Informal settler families (ISFs), particularly those located in danger
6 
zones and those displaced by go'^ernment infrastructure projects and calamities deserve
7 
no less than habitable resettlement areas as well as climate-resilient communities.
8 
Recognizing the right to have quality, reliable, affordable, safe and regular supply
9 
of electric power vis-a-vis the vulnerability of the Philippine archipelago and its local
10 
communities, particularly the poor, women, and children, to potential dangerous
11 
consequences of climate change, the State shall strengthen, integrate, consolidate and
12 
institutionalize initiatives to address climate change in the context of sustainable
13 
development, such as the prioritization of renewable sources in energy generation to
14 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
15 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms.
16 
a) Soiar Energy. - refers to the energy derived from solar radiation that can
17 
be converted into useful thermal or electricity energy.
18 
b) Soiar Energy Systems. - refers to energy systems which convert solar
19 
energy into thermal or electrical energy.
20 
c) Soiar Home System (SHS). - refers to a stand-alone photovoltaic system
21 
that offers a cost-effective mode of supplying amenity power for lighting


1 
and appliances to remote off-grid households. Depending on viability, SHS
2 
may be grid-tie, off-grid or hybrid solar PV.
3 
d) Net Metering. - refers to a system, appropriate for distributed generation,
4 
in which a distribution grid user has a two-way connection to the grid and
5 
only charged for his/her net electricity consumption and is credited for any
6 
overall contribution to the electricity grid.
7 
e) Off-grid Systems. - refer to electrical systems not connected to the wires
8 
and related facilities of the On-Grid Systems of the Philippines.
9 
f) On-grid Systems. - refers to electrical systems composed of interconnected
10 
transmission lines, distribution lines, substations, and related facilities for
11 
the purpose of conveyance of the bilk power on the grid of the Philippines.
12 
g) Renewabie Energy Systems. - refer to energy systems which convert RE
13 
resources into useful energy forms, like electrical, mechanical, etc.
14 
h) Rurai Eiectrification. - refers to the delivery of basic electricity services,
15 
consisting of power generation, sub-transmission, and/or extension of
16 
associated power delivery system that would bring about important social
17 
and economic benefits to the countryside.
18 
Sec. 4. Creating the soiar home systems financing for sociai housing program. -
19 
All current and future social housing financing programs shall require the integration of
20 
the SHS financing program to defray up-front Investment of poor families and
21 
communities on solar PV installations to provide secure, clean, and environmental-friendly
22 
power services In both in-city and off-city resettlement sites. The annual target for solar
23 
housing units shall be based on the combined annual social housing targets of the LGUs,
24 
NHA and SHFC. Per housing unit, a corresponding budget will be allocated for SHS
25 
financing based on the prevailing cost of solar home systems in the market on top of the
26 
cost for the production of the housing units. The terms of the financing program, which
27 
may be in the form of loans, grants and equity contributions from the shelter agencies
28 
shall be designed so that electricity-related expenditures of households over the medium-
29 
term will not be greater than expenditures they would incur if they were connected to
30 
the electricity grid.
31 
The annual target for solar housing units shall be based on the combined annual
32 
social housing targets of the NHA and SHFC. Per housing unit, a corr esponding budget
33 
will be allocated for SHS financing based on the prevailing cost of solar home systems In
34 
the market on top of the cost for the production of the housing units.
35 
Sec. 5. Promotion of soiar home systems as an affordabie, viabie, accessibie, dean
36 
and cheaper energy source for sociai housing programs. - The NHA and SHFC shall


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incorporate education and information dissemination immediately in the first phase of the 
implementation of resettlement projects to orient ISFs about the SHS financing program.
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the Implementation of this Act 
shall be included In the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 7. Impiementing Rules and Reguiations. - The Department of Housing and 
Sustainable Urban Development (DHSUD), NHA and the SHFC, in coordination with the 
Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and 
other government agencies concerned, shall promulgate the necessary Implementing 
rules and regulations within thirty (30) days upon the effectivity of this Act.
Sec. 8. Separabiiity Clause. - If any provision, section or part of this Act shall be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or impair 
any other provisions, sections or parts thereof.
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, issuances, 
and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with 
this Act is hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation of in the Official Gazette. 
Approved,