NEA fasttracks IRR for new coop emergency fund law

MANILA, Philippines — The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is working to fasttrack the  formulation of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the recently passed electric cooperatives (EC) emergency fund law by November.

NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong said the committee tasked to craft the IRR already has a working draft and is set to consult with the Department of Energy (DOE) and other concerned government agencies.

“We already have the draft. We will refer the IRR to the DOE for final comment before we submit (the document) for finalization,” he said.

Republic Act 11039, also known as the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund Act, was approved by President Duterte on June 29.

The law provides the ECs access to financial assistance during natural calamities for the immediate rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure.

Under the law,  NEA will manage and administer the Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund (ECERF). The agency is also tasked with formulating the law’s  IRR in consultation with relevant government agencies within six months from its effectivity.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the IRR would pave the way for the full implementation of the ECERF, which will have an initial amount of P750 million to be drawn from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council funds.

“If the IRR is already in place, the P750 million can already be activated because the intention is to activate that. At least we don’t have any legal impediment when we have that IRR ready,”  Gatchalian said.

NEA deputy administrator for technical services Artis Nikki Tortola said the committee composed of key officials of the NEA has scheduled a series of meetings this month to discuss the “finer details” of the IRR.