Senate OKs creation of energy think tank

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is close to having its own think tank which could bridge research and policy gaps in the Philippine energy sector after the Senate approved the proposed measure in the hope of fostering greater energy security, sustainability, and affordability in the country.

The Senate approved on third and final reading Senate Bill No. 1574, also known as the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI) Act of 2018, authored by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.

“Finally, we are now one step closer to having our very own world-class think tank that will stand at the forefront of Philippine energy research and policy development,” said Gatchalian,  chair of the Senate Committee on Energy.

The counterpart measure is still pending in the House of Representatives.

SB 1574 mandates the establishment of the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute at the University of the Philippines.

“As a publicly-funded institute, PERPI will be in charge of ensuring that the results of its research and policy development activities are used to craft energy sector reforms for the benefit of the national economy and the welfare of the Filipino people,” Gatchalian said.

PERPI, which is inspired by similar international energy think tanks hosted by top American universities, will be tasked with conducting multidisciplinary energy research, incubating and developing cutting edge technologies, and serving as the sparring partner for the government during the energy policy-making process.

The bill appropriates P200 million for the initial funding of the think tank.

An endowment fund will also be established to further power the institute’s research.

“More than ever, the Philippines needs to develop a stable, affordable, and sustainable energy supply, as this will be critical to meeting the country’s ambitious long term socio-economic goals. I firmly believe that the PERPI Act will empower us to meet these goals and help us build a stronger and more prosperous future for our nation,” Gatchalian said.