Marcos to DOE: Continue expediting energy projects' processes

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. tasked the Department of Energy to continue expediting the integration of all applications as well as permitting processes for energy projects in the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS).

“Well, you continue to work on the processing, the change in the processing... permitting process. So, we try to get as close as possible to the simultaneous processing,” Maros said during a sectoral meeting on Tuesday about updates on the streamlining of energy project applications.

“As we discussed earlier, we never get it in that straight line that you have. But at least we’ll push it as far as we can," he added.

Marcos directed the Energy Department to inform agencies in advance about its impending endorsement allowing the latter to immediately start the permit processing ahead of the forthcoming recommendation.

For his part, DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the agency could implement the President’s suggestion.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, the long permitting process and the numerous permits and clearances required by government agencies have supposedly discouraged investors from doing business in the Philippines.

To recall, the EVOSS Act provides an online process for completing requirements of energy-related projects, including the submission of documentary requirements and online payment of fees.

The government targets the integration of all energy-related processes by June 2028.

However, the full operationalization of the EVOSS System primarily depends on the readiness of the agencies and entities to be incorporated or integrated into the system, the PCO said. —RF, GMA Integrated News