FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No.10BS 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to establish the solar energy development authority. 
, 
Section 10 of Article V'N of the Constitution provides that "Science and 
Technology are essential for national development and progress. The State shall 
give priority to research and development; invention, innovation and their 
utilization and to science and technology education, training and services. It shall 
support indigenous appropriate and self-reliant scientific and technological 
capabilities and their application to the country's capabilities and their application 
to the productive system and national life." 
At present, we are too dependent on· imported crude oil for our entire 
energy needs. Other sources of energy such as hydroelectric and geothermal 
energy are not enough to supply our energy needs. There is, therefore, a need to 
explore and develop other alternative sources of energy in order to solve our 
current energy crisis. 
Being a tropical country, the Philippines is blessed with abundant sunlight 
which can be tapped as an inexhaustible, cheap and environmentally safe source 
of energy. As compared to other conventional fuel, solar energy merely 
harnesses the heat of the sun, hence, it does not pollute the air nor the sea. 
Since solar energy is a relatively new technology in the country, its 
potential use as an economical, safe and efficient energy source is generally 
unknown to the consuming public. It is therefore, necessary to create a 
government entity that would initiate and prom~te public acceptance of this new 
technology. Moreover, aside from the tremendous solar that our country will save 
from importing oil, it is envisioned that with solar energy, people will be more 
conscious of protecting their environment. 
Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly recommended. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No.1 aBS 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN 
ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
THE 
SOLAR 
ENERGY 
DEVELOPMENT 
AUTHORITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. There is hereby created the Solar Energy Development 
Authority hereinafter referred to as the "Authority" which shall undertake to do 
researchers and promote the development and utilization of the solar energy. 
SEC. 2. The powers and functions of the Authority shall be vested in a 
Board of Directors consisting of a Chairman and four (4) members who shall be 
appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission 
on Appointments. The chairman and the two (2) members shall serve for a term 
of four (4) years, while the remaining two (2). members shall be an ex-official 
members, who shall be composed of the Secretary of Environment and Natural 
Resources and the Secretary of Science and Technology. They shall receive 
compensation as may be fixed by the President of the Philippines which shall not 
exceed with those given to Commissioners of a Constitutional Body. No person 
shall be appointed Chairman or members of the board unless he is a natural born 
Filipino citizen at least thirty (30) years of age, of good moral character and must 
be of recognized competence in the fields of science and technology. 
SEC. 3. The Board of Directors shall have the following duties and 
responsibilities: 
a) Prepare and issue rules and regulations as it considers necessary for 
the effective discharge of its function: 
b) Direct the management, operations aQd administration of the authority; 
c) Adopt and use corporate seal 
d) Make contracts; 
e) Sue and be sued: 
I') Appoint such officers and employees as are not otherwise provided for 
in this Act, to define their duties, fix their compensation, discipline and 
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dismiss anyone of them for cause, subject to the Civil Services 
Commission rules and regulations; 
g) Exercise such incidental powers as shall be necessary to carryon the 
functions of the authority. 
SEC. 4. The Authority shall have the follbwing powers and functions; 
a) Conduct extensive research on alternative sources of energy; 
b) Formulate a comprehensive policy for the research, development mid 
utilization of alternative sources of energy; 
c) Implement the government program·on the allocation, distribution and 
sale of alternative sources of energy; 
d) Perform such other powers and functions as may be necessary to carry 
out the provisions of this Act 
SEC. 5. The chairman shall be the Chief Operating Officer. In case of 
absence or wherever the Chairman is unable to act, the Board shall deSignate 
who among its members shall act as the Chairman. 
SEC. 6. The amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act 
shall be charged to the appropriation for t.he Department of Science and 
Technology under the current General Appropriation Act. Thereafter such sum as 
may be necessary for continuous operation of the Authority shall be included in 
the annual General Appropriation Act. 
SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval 
Approved, 
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