DOE issues guidelines on perks for indigenous communities

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) came out with guidelines covering perks for indigenous communities hosting energy projects that will pave the way for more social and economic developments in the area.

The circular was issued to guide the indigenous communities in accessing and utilizing the financial benefits from their hosting of power generation facilities and/or energy resource development projects pursuant to the Energy Regulations (ER) No. 1-94 Program.

“The DOE recognizes the right of our tribal and indigenous communities to optimize available social development opportunities and preserve their critical role as the stewards of our energy resources, particularly where the power plants and/or the energy resource development projects are located,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

Under ER1-94, the generation facilities or energy resource development projects required to provide one centavo per kilowatt-hour (kwh) of their electricity sales shall be remitted directly to the host communities.

It details that the money is allocated for development and livelihood fund (DLF), reforestation, watershed management, health and or environment enhancement fund (RWMHEEF) and electrification fund (EF).

Under new circular, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) shall endorse all legitimate indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs) beneficiaries to the DOE within 30 days from receiving all the necessary requirements from the ICCs/IPs.

Thereafter, the DOE will notify the concerned generation company and/or energy resource developer of the inclusion of the host ICCs/IPs for the remittance of their financial benefits.

The policy enables the host ICCs/IPs to utilize the funds for the implementation of their social development projects.

“The Host ICCs/IPs’ receipt of financial benefits from power plants situated within their ancestral domain is a symbolic way to mark the 25th year of implementing ER No. 1-94,” Cusi said.

“This arrangement with the ICCs/IPs further strengthens the DOE’s commitment to boost their participation, cooperation and sustained partnership in power development projects,” he said.