The Department of Energy (DOE) is eyeing the integration of energy-related project permits being issued by the local government units (LGUs) into the energy virtual one-stop shop (EVOSS) system, the online platform for permits’ processing of energy projects.
According to Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, “LGUs are invited to enroll in EVOSS, so there would be transparency and that the process of approval will become faster.”
She indicated that a breakthrough in engaging the participation of the LGUs may soon be achieved because there is already a candidate-local government from Region VI that expressed interest to have its permitting linked to the EVOSS system.
Investors in the energy sector have been relentlessly complaining of slow, inefficient and non-transparent processing of LGU permits, causing them to bleed money and miss timelines on project implementations.
Another dreaded practice reported to be happening at LGU level is the tendency of some politicians to ask for "perpetual rights", or securing minority share in projects which are typically placed under dummy companies that are either owned by their relatives, political supporters or friends.
For foreign investors, in particular, LGU permitting is a never-ending grueling journey because of lack of clarity and consistency in rules and regulations being enforced across local governments t hat often pushed projects into the brink of cancellations.
The online portal streamlines the permitting processes for energy projects, as prescribed under Republic Act 11234 or the EVOSS Act.
Apart from the DOE, the other permitting processes from various government agencies already linked into the EVOSS system, include those of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), National Electrification Administration (NEA), National Transmission Corporation, National Power Corporation (NPC) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Under the EVOSS system, each permit has prescribed calendar days of evaluation and approval – ensuring that all documents and warranted submissions from the project-sponsors are complete and comprehensively complied with.
Around April this year, the EVOSS steering committee chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin has directed relevant national government agencies (NGAs) and LGUs to work collaboratively with the DOE and Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) “to streamline their permitting processes and requirements for energy projects and integrate the same into the EVOSS system.”
DOE data showed that applications for energy projects already approved through the EVOSS platform reached 1,724 from June 2022 until June this year.