Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives

Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4893

Introduced by Rep. Rodel M. Batocabe, Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr., and
Rep. Christopher S. Co

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ENERGY RESEARCH AND POLICY
DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND
FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Explanatory Note

The energy sector is naturally characterized by rapidly changing technologies which most
of the country’s policy instruments cannot keep up due to given limitations in local research and
technical capacity. This deficiency can be seen in the sparse academic and policy programs in
universities and research centers focusing on energy. As a result, the government has sought
assistance from private foreign funded institutions for the needed assistance for energy policy and
regulation.

This bill seeks to bridge the research and policy gap in the energy sector by creating a
Philippine Energy Research and Policy Development Institute. It recognizes the importance of
rigorous multidisciplinary research in making sound energy policies and legislation and thus
charges the Institute to undertake collaborative energy research and policy development among
the academe and stakeholders; provide timely technical assistance to the government on energy
issues needing policy direction and advise; create and administer programs intended to build the
capacity of government agencies, energy stakeholders, and the academe; and ensure that the results
of energy research and policy development activities are utilized to improve the energy sector, the
economy, and the lives of the people.

view of the foregoing, the immediate passy measurais Sought.

)DEL M. BATOCABE CHRIS] HER S.CO


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Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

4893

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Rodel M. Batocabe, Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin, Jr., and
Rep. Christopher S. Co

AN ACT

ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ENERGY RESEARCH AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT.
INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING

FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOS|

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
Development Institute Act of 2016”.

SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to ensure energy
security, equity, and sustainability. Towards this end, it is also the policy of the State to enhance
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 multidisciplinary research-
based policies and strategies for the costeffective use of energy resources towards environmentally-

sound energy development.

SECTION 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 School of Economies of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman,
Philippine Energy Research and Policy Development Institute, hereinafter referred to as the Institute

SECTION 4. Objectives of the Institute. — The objectives of the Institute are:

a) To promote collaborative and multidisciplinary energy research and policy development among
the academe, and public and private stakeholders;
b) To provide timely technical assistance to the government on energy issues needing policy

direction and advise;


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c) To create and administer programs intended to build the capacity of government agencies, public
and private energy stakeholders, and the academe including graduate, and post-graduate students;

4) Toestablish mechanisms for the dissemination and utilization of research and policy development
outputs;

¢) To ensure that the results of energy research and policy development activities are utilized to

improve the energy sector, the economy, and the lives of the people.

SI
shall not be limited to:

‘TION 5. Functions of the Institute. - The powers and functions of the Institute shall include but

a) Establishing research and policy development programs and capacity-building trainings on
energy;

b) Formulating and conducting research on energy discoveries, public policy issues in energy
markets, and other pressing issues and problems, all backed by rigorous empirical evidence;

c) Enhancing the masters and doctoral pool of researchers and faculty in the field of energy;

d) Providing common research support facilities while maximizing the utilization of its expert
support staff;

‘stablishing local and foreign linkages in energy research and policy development;
£) Serving as the repository of all energy-related researches and studies to be generated by the
Institute and other academic institutions;
2) Proposing and allocating its annual budgetary resources while optimizing resource generation
and utilization; and
h) Receiving and managing grants, aid, donations or any kind of assistance for achieving its
objectives, in accordance with the rules and regulations of UP.
The Advisory Council may give additional powers and functions to the Institute Provided: That
it shall be in accordance with the objectives of the Institute as stated in this Act,

SECTION 6. Organizational Structure. - The Institute shall be administered by an Executive Director

and overseen by an Advisory Council

SECTION 7. The Executive Director. ~ The Executive Director shall be a tenured faculty member of
UP and a recognized scholar in energy research and policy development. ‘The Board of Regents shall
appoint the Executive Director who shall serve for a term of three (3) years which can be renewed for

another three (3) years.

SECTION 8. Advisory Council of the Institute. - There shall be an Advisory Council of the Institute
to be composed of the following

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Chancellor of UP Diliman as the Chairperson;
Dean of the UP College of Engineering;
Dean of the UP College of Law;
Dean of the UP College of Science;
Dean of the UP School of Statistics;
Dean of the UP School of Economics; and
One (1) other member who is a recognized scholar in energy research and policy development to
be appointed by the Board of Regents upon recommendation of the UP President.
‘The Executive Director shall concurrently serve as a Member-Seeretary of the Board. The

Chancellor of UP Diliman, and the Deans of the College of Engineering, College of Law, College of

Science, School of Statistics, and School of Economics shall serve in an ex-officio capacity. The one

other member shall serve for a term of two (2) years.

SECTION 9. Functions of the Advisory Council, - The Advisory Council shall have the following

powers and functions

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To recommend the general directions and determine the priorities of the Institute;

To recommend research and policy 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;

To recommend to the Board of Regents the establishment of the component units of the Institute;
To generate resources and obtain logistical and financial support for the programs and component
units of the Institute;

To provide advice to the Institute on any matter relating to the development of a research and/or
policy area and the administration of research and policy programs; and

To monitor and review all the activities and operations of the Institute as implemented by the

Executive Director,

SECTION 10. Appointment of Faculty and Staff. — The human resource complement of the Institute

shall be organized and set-up by the Executive Director in accordance with the existing rules and

regulations of UP and upon approval by the Board of Regents,

SECTION 11. Public Access. ~ 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.


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SECTION 12. Trust Fund. — A trust fund, which is designated as the Energy Research Fund, is hereby
established for the support of the Institute, including the purchase of research equipment and facilities,
compensation and honoraria to researchers, whether in government service or otherwise, and such other
necessary expenses to carry out the purpose of this Act. The Energy Research Fund shall consist of the
amounts appropriated by the Government under this Act, and such sums as may be derived from private

endowments, donations, and other sources,

SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within fifteen (15) days from the effectivity
of this Act, the UP Board of Regents, in coordination with the Department of Energy, shall formulate

the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 14. Separability Clause. ~ If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared to be
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to

be in full force or effect.

‘TION 15. 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 ot

modified accordingly.

SECTION 16, Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least

two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

Approved.