SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
)
SENATE
S enate Bill No. 1290
f e ' l  
S'l’IISIp 
16 
OEClS P4.-52
« E C t'IV £ D 5f;
In tro d u ced  by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ENERGY RESEARCH AND POLICY 
DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, DEFINING ITS OBJECTIVES, POWERS 
AND FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
E xplanatory Note
The energy sector is naturally characterized by rapidly changing 
technologies which m ost of the country’s policy instrum ents cannot keep 
up with due to given lim itations in local research and technical capacity. 
This deficiency can be seen in the sparse academ ic and policy program s 
in universities and research centers focusing on energy. As a result, the 
governm ent 
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 im portance of rigorous m ultidisciplinary 
research in m aking sound energy policies and legislation and thus 
charges the Institute to undertake collaborative energy research and 
policy development am ong the academ e and stakeholders; provide timely 
technical assistance to the governm ent on energy issues needing policy 
direction and advise; create and adm inister program s intended to build 
the capacity of governm ent agencies, energy stakeholders, and the 
academ e; 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.
Given all the foregoing, the imm ediate pass.
IS measure is
sought.


Sf-C‘
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uf ll)f jiiM utt.iry
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
]
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
*16 
DEC 15 
P4 5 2
R E C tlV tO B Y :
F irst R egular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 1290
In tro d u ced  by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE ENERGY RESEARCH AND POLICY 
DEVELOPMENT 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 Development Institute Act of 2016”.
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SECTION 2. D eclaration o f 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,


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issues, and challenges in the country’s energy sector; and form ulate
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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  P hilippine E nergy R esearch and Policy
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In stitu te . - 
Pursuant 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 School of Economics of the University of the Philippines (UP)
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Diliman, a Philippine Energy Research and Policy Development Institute, 
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hereinafter referred to as the Institute.
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SECTION 4. O bjectives o f th e  In stitu te . -  The objectives of the Institute are;
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a) 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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b) To provide timely technical assistance to the government on energy
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issues needing policy direction and advise;
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c) To create and adm inister program s intended to build the capacity of
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governm ent agencies, public and private energy stakeholders, and the
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academ e including graduate, and post-graduate students;
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d) 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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e) To ensure th at the results of energy research and policy development
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activities are utilized to improve the energy sector, the economy, and the
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lives of the people.
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SECTION 5. F u n ctio n s o f th e  In stitu te . -  The powers and functions of the
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Institute shall include bu t shall not be limited to:


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a) Establishing research and policy development program s and capacity­
building trainings on energy;
b) Form ulating and conducting research on energy discoveries, public 
policy issues in energy m arkets, and other pressing issues and problems, 
all backed by rigorous empirical evidence;
c) Enhancing the m asters 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;
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 and other academ ic institutions;
g) Proposing and allocating its annual budgetary resources while optimizing 
resource generation and utilization; and
h) 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 and functions to the 
Institute Provided: That it shall be in accordance with the objectives of the 
Institute as stated in this Act.
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SECTION 6. O rganizational S tru ctu re. -  The Institute shall be adm inistered
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by an Executive Director and overseen by an Advisory Council.
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SECTION 7. The E xecutive D irector. -  The Executive Director shall be a 
tenured faculty m em ber of UP and a recognized scholar in energy research and 
policy development. The Board of Regents shall appoint the Executive Director


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who shall serve for a term  of three (3) years which can be renewed for another
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three (3) years.
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SECTION 8. A dvisory C ouncil o f th e  In stitu te . -  There shall be an Advisory
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Council of the Institute to be composed of the following:
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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;
1) Dean of the UP School of Economics; and
g) One (1) other m em ber who is a recognized scholar in energy research and 
policy development to be appointed by the Board of Regents upon 
recom m endation of the UP President.
The Executive Director shall concurrently serve as a M ember-Secretary 
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 m em ber shall 
serve for a term  of two (2) years.
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SECTION 9, F u n ctio n s o f th e  A dvisory Council. -  The Advisory Council shall
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have the following powers and functions:
1. To recom mend the general directions and determ ine the priorities of the 
Institute;
2. To recom mend 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;


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3. To recom m end to the Board of Regents the establishm ent of the 
com ponent units of the Institute;
4. To generate resources and obtain logistical and financial support for the 
program s and com ponent units of the Institute;
5. To 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 program s; and
6. To m onitor and review all the activities and operations of the Institute as 
implemented by the Executive Director.
SECTION 10. A ppointm ent of F aculty and Staff. -  The hum an resource 
com plem ent 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 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 im plementing rules and regulations of this Act.
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SECTION 12. T ru st Fund. -  A tru st fund, which is designated as the Energy 
Research 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 
necessary expenses to cariy out the purpose of this Act. The Energy Research 
Fund shall consist of the am ounts appropriated by the Government under this 
Act, and such sum s as may be derived from private endowm ents, donations, 
and other sources.


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SECTION 13. Im p lem en tin g  R ules and R egulations. -  Within fifteen (15)
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days from the effectivity of this Act, the UP Board of Regents, in coordination
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with the D epartm ent of Energy, shall form ulate the rules and regulations
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necessary to im plem ent the provisions of this Act.
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SECTION 14. 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 15. R epealing 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, am ended or modified accordingly.
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SECTION 16. 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.