In a tripartite deal it inked with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is reinforcing its support to the promotion of digital tools and green energy solutions for housing as well as community developments in the country.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the three government agencies, the ERC as a regulator of the power sector, is pushing for digital track when it comes to processing and approval of permits and licenses.
“The ERC will promote more digital transformation programs in the public sector in order to increase efficiency and transparency in securing permits and licenses,” the regulatory agency reiterated.
And in the realm of housing development ventures, the ERC emphasized that it will need to “develop and promulgate the relevant rules and regulations on new technologies that will create more utility savings for the renewable energy-powered communities.”
On the sphere of green technology solutions for housing and urban developments, solar-powered installations and solar net-metered communities are among those championed by the regulatory body.
The ERC said it will have to collaborate with the DHSUD, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the local government units (LGUs) in propagating communities that will be leaning on solar technology for their energy needs.
ERC Chairperson Agnes T. Devanadera stipulated that the tripartite MOU “seeks to support the sustainable and digital transformation of the housing industry by making it greener, resilient, digitally-connected and more inclusive, as we fight and rise above the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The ERC chief added the shift to green technology solutions as well as embracing transformative digital strategies in re-shaping communities could help “mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.”
For DHSUD, its role in the tripartite pact, is to engage both the DOE and ERC as well as their officials and staffs in capacity building activities – and that shall include orienting them on the housing agency’s current policies and regulations on human settlement and urban development.
And for the constituency that it has been catering to, DHSUD will have to encourage them “to undertake energy efficiency and conservation plans, programs and activities,” and will also develop programs that will incentivize these stakeholders in pursuing green building ventures or in integrating energy conservation and efficiency in their building designs and developments.
The DOE, for its part, will have to “prepare, integrate, coordinate, supervise and control all plans, programs, projects and activities of the government pertaining to energy exploration, development, utilization, distribution and conservation.” ###