The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) now sits as member of the Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC), bringing Mindanao representation in the national inter-agency body mandated to coordinate and facilitate energy investments in the country.
At the 2nd EICC Full Council Meeting held this week at the Fort, Taguig City, council members composed of key national agencies unanimously adopted a resolution on MinDA’s inclusion into the energy investment coordinating body.
The EICC was created in 2017 under Executive Order No. 30, with mandates to streamline the regulatory procedures by establishing a simplified and harmonized approval processes for the development and implementation of energy projects deemed of national significance.
“Having paved the way for improving the power situation in Mindanao following the supply crisis in 2012, MinDA’s membership in EICC now provides us with a larger platform to push forward our current power development agenda of providing a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy supply for Mindanao,” said MinDA OIC Chairman Nathaniel Dalumpines.
At the height of the Mindanao power crisis in 2012, the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) was created to spearhead and coordinate the efforts of the national, regional, and local governments, and power industry stakeholders to improve the power situation in Mindanao. MinDA co-chairs the MPMC with the Department of Energy (DOE).
Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, MinDA deputy executive director and head of the MPMC technical working group, said efforts of the EICC will complement the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) Act, which was also created to cut down lengthy energy project permitting process for power investors. Created under Republic Act 11234, the EVOSS also provide a portal where power investors and players can monitor status of their applications.
With strong push for Renewable Energy development, power development is among the flagship programs pursued by MinDA to realize a regime of reliable, sustainable, and affordable power in Mindanao.
In 2014, MinDA, with support from USAID’s Clean Energy (CENERGY) and Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Resillience and Sustainability (B-LEADERS) projects, set-up the facilitation of power development projects in Mindanao under the One-Stop Facilitation and Monitoring Center targeting small hydro, biomass and solar projects.
MinDA had also pushed for the adoption of strategies under the Mindanao Energy Plan, in partnership with DOE which projects that Mindanao needs additional 3,500MW by 2030 and over 10,000MW by 2040.
