EVOSS Act to rid energy sector of red tape — Gatchalian

MANILA, Philippines — Red tape in the energy sector will be “a thing of the past” with the signing into law by the President of the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) Act, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Friday.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier signed into law Republic Act (RA) 11234 or the “Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) Act,” which would streamline the permitting process of power generation, transmission, and distribution projects in the Philippines.

READ: Duterte signs Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop bill into law

“With this law in place, red tape in the energy sector will soon become a thing of the past as it promotes faster, simplified permitting process that would allow foreign and domestic investors with the capacity to build cutting-edge power plants to enter the market and stimulate competition in the Philippine energy generation industry,” Gatchalian, Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy said in a statement.

The new law mandates the creation of an online platform, EVOSS, which would facilitate the paperless applications for permits for new power generation, transmission, or distribution project.

The portal could also be used to submit all documentary requirements and even pay fees.

Gatchalian said the increased competition in the industry could decrease generation costs and in turn could eventually drive down electricity prices.

The projected reduction on consumer electricity prices are estimated at P0.35 per kilowatt/hour, Gatchalian said.

“For an average household with a consumption rate of 200 kwh per month, this would result in savings of P840 every year,” the senator said.

“Ito na ang hudyat ng pagkaroon ng mas murang kuryente sa bansa,” he added. /muf