President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law Republic Act No. (RA) 11572, establishing the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI) to enhance the country’s capability for energy research and policy development, Malacañang said.
“The law establishes the institute as an independent agency attached to the University of the Philippines (UP) with a separate budget from the premier university,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in his virtual press conference.
RA 11572 aims to help address policy gaps and push power sector reforms that will directly benefit the Filipino people.
Under the law, PERPI will have its own Advisory Council consisting of 10 members to include five ex-officio members, namely the Secretaries of the Department of Energy, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Science and Technology; Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority; and University of the Philippines (UP) President.
Its five remaining members will be selected by the UP President each representing any of the fields of engineering, law, science, statistics, economic, social science and public health.
The institute is expected to provide timely technical and strategic assistance to the government, energy regulators and Congress, on energy-related matters requiring policy direction and advice.
A total of P200 million will be appropriated out of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the initial operating fund of the institute.