FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'11 
rlAR 17 P2 :29 
SENJ.).lE 
S. No. 
~151 
[ntroduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines will benetit greatly from solar power due to the high levels of sunlight it 
receives throughout most of the year. Harnessing cleari renewable energy such as solar power 
can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and protect the' environment. 
Worldwide, solar photovoltaic technologies are moving rapidly from serving off-grid 
niche markets like remote locations to becoming a mainstream electricity source. Developed 
countries such as the United States and Japan actively promote the use of these technologies in 
residential homes and commercial businesses. 
'. 
In the Philippines, the cost of a home or commercial solar system must fall to the level 
where it makes long-term financial sense for a homeowner or a business to install the system. 
Government incentives can help make solar power cost-competitive with traditional electricity 
sources, 
Investing 
111 solar power can only lead to greater energy stability and energy 
independence, mitigate global warming and all' pollution, and economic benefits such as 
increased jobs and lower energy bills. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
2 'ry r.-l 
S. No. 
Ii) 
'11 
MAR 17 P2 :29 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Sal1tiago 
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AN ACT 
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PROVIDING COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR REBATES, 
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LOANS, AND OTHER INCENTIVES TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES FOR 
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THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS FOR 
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PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE PHILIPPINES 
• 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Solar Roofs Act 0[2010." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote alternative 
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and renewable sources of energy with due regard to public health and the environment, 
, 
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consistent with the country's sustainable economic growth. 
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SECTION 3. Definitions. - In this Act, the term-' 
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(a) 
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IS 
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(b) 
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(c) 
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(d) 
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"eligible pmiicipant" means-
(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
an owner of a home; 
a busi ness entity; 
a school, college, or university; all,(l 
any other individual or entity that ~he Secretary of Energy determines to be 
appropriate pursuant to the plll1Joses of this Act; 
"installed nameplate capacity" means the maximum output of a solar electric 
system under specific conditions designated by the manufacturer of the solar 
electric system; 
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"Secretary" means the Secretary of Energy; 
"solar energy system" means rooftop or ground-mounted solar equipment-
(1) 
that is used to generate electricity or heat water; and 
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(2) 
with an installed nameplate capacity not exceeding one (1) megawatt or 
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the thermal equivalent of one (l) megawatt. 
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SECTION 4. Rebates. Loans. and Other Incentives/or Purchase and Installation o/So/ar 
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Energy Systems. - (a) In General-There is hereby established under this Act a program, to be 
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administered by the Secretary of Energy, which shall provide competitive grants to local 
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governments to provide rebates, loans, or other incentives to eligible participants for the 
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purchase and installation of solar energy systems for properties located in the Philippines. 
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(b) 
Implementation-The Secretary shall adopt and implement criteria for awarding 
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competitive grants under subpmagraph (a) to local governments that would-
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(1) 
provide the maximum leverage of government funds; 
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(2) 
provide for the maximum deployment of solar energy; 
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(3) 
ensure that grants are awarded to a diversity of geographic locations and 
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recipients with different population sizes; ,and 
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(4) 
provide a preference for grant recipients that have established and maintained, or 
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agree to commit to establish and maintain, standards and policies to overcome 
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barriers to distributed generation (includiJJ:g interconnection and net metering) in a 
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manner consistent with the legal authorities of the grant recipient. 
'. 
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(c) 
Authorized Use of Funds-Competitive grants under this section may be used to 
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expand an existing, or establish and fund a new-
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(1) 
solar rebate program; 
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(2) 
solar loan program; 
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(3) 
solar performance-based incentive program; or 
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(4) 
other solar incentive programs not described in this section, as determined by the 
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Secretary. 
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(d) 
Program Requirements-For each fiscal year during which a grant recipient nses 
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funds provided lli1der this section, the grant recipient shall-
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(1) 
certify to the Secretary that the funds will. be used-
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(i) 
to supplement, expand, or create new programs or projects and will not 
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supplant existing programs as to maximize program participation; and 
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(2) 
(e) 
(ii) 
to deploy an increased quantity of solar energy systems; and 
submit to the Secretary an implementation plan that eontains-
(i) 
projections for solar energy systems deployment; 
• 
(ii) 
data regarding the number of eligible participants that are assisted under 
existing ~pplicable State and local 'progranls; and 
(iii) 
projections fol'-
(I) 
additional solar energy system deployment; and 
(11) 
the number of additional e.ligible participants who will be covered 
by the annual implementatj(J!1 plan. 
Solar Energy System - With respect to grant awards in any fiscal year under this 
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section, the Secretary may specify the type and capacity of the solar energy system and type of 
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deployment or incentive program for which the grant funds are made available. 
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(f) 
Share -
Each eligible entity that receives funds under this section shall be 
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responsible for an amount equal to twenty (20) percent of the amount of the provided funds. 
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(g) 
Administrative Expenses - Not more thap five (5) percent of the amounts made 
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available for each fiscal year under this section may be used to pay the administrative expenses 
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of the Department of Energy that the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this Act, 
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including expenses arising from monitoring and evaluation. 
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(h) 
Maximum Incentive-
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(1) 
In General - With respect to each rebate, grant, and tax credit provided to 
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an eligible participant under this section, the aggregate value of the grants, 
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rebates, and tax credits maif not exceed fifty (50) percent of the cost to the 
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purchaser of the purchase and inst!(llation of the solar energy system. 
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(2) 
Effect - Nothing in this subsection affects any solar loan Of financing 
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progran1 under this section or any other law or regulation. 
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(i) 
Goal - It is the goal of the Philippines, through this Act and any appropriate 
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incentive or research and development program, to install distributed solar energy systems on not 
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less than 1,000,000 properties located in the Philippines by 31 December 2021. 
'. 
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SECTION 5. Regulatiuns. - The Secretary sMlI promulgate the necessary rules and 
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regulations to carry out the objectives of this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Authorization of Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, 
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there are authorized 10 be appropriated such sums as ma~ be necessary for each fiscal year. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree 01' issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule 01' regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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