THE MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) is the newest member of the Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC) after the members composed of key national agencies unanimously adopted a resolution on its inclusion.
The adoption was taken up during the 2nd EICC Full Council meeting held this week at The Fort in Taguig City.
MinDA OIC Chairman Nathaniel Dalumpines said in a press statement issued on Thursday, that MinDA’s membership in EICC would provide them with a larger platform to push forward the current power development agenda of providing a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy supply for Mindanao.
“This will also bring Mindanao representation in the national inter-agency body mandated to coordinate and facilitate energy investments in the country,” he said.
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.
Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, MinDA deputy executive director and head of the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC), said the efforts of the EICC will complement the Energy Virtual One-Stop-Shop that provides a portal, where power investors and players can monitor the status of their applications.
“Power development is among the flagship programs pursued by MinDA that pushes strongly on Renewable Energy,” he said.
With the support of USAID’s Clean Energy (CENERGY) and Building Low Emission Alternatives to Development Resilience and Sustainability (B-LEADERS) projects, MinDA had set up in 2014 the facilitation of power development projects in Mindanao under the One-Stop Facilitation and Monitoring Center targetting small hydro, biomass and solar projects.
Montenegro said MinDA also pushed for the adoption of strategies under the Mindanao Energy Plan, in partnership with the Department of Energy.(By Digna Banzon)
20
