DOE e-system to hasten process for new energy projects

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled on Wednesday, June 3, a new web-based system designed to cut the processing time of energy projects.

The Energy Virtual One Shared System (EVOSS) is aimed at cutting down the time it takes to obtain the necessary permits to start a renewable energy project.

“We want to make our lives and the lives of our partners easier, With the introduction of the EVOSS, we are helping ourselves make better our efforts while accelerating the development of our industry,” said Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla in his keynote speech during the launch.

The DOE is developing EVOSS with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability projects (B-LEADERS), and in coordination with other government agencies.

It builds on the one-stop facilitation and monitoring center that was initially set up by the Mindanao Development Authority, but upgrades its services to include monitoring of application and processes, the DOE said.

The DOE shared that a time and motion study of constructing a hydropower plant in the south shows that it currently takes roughly 3 years to complete documentary requirements – with roughly 100 signatures required – before a developer can even push a shovel into the ground.

The move follows in the footsteps of other government agencies that have introduced reforms to speed up government processes.

Initial stage

The system will initially cover renewable energy projects before covering conventional projects as well. The DOE said it is targeting the fourth quarter of 2015 for the project to be operational.

It is currently reviewing procedures to entice more private investments in the clean energy sector, which includes understanding the nuances, legalities, and sequential steps that characterize each renewable energy technology.

At the initial stage, a government agency will review all application forms of each agency involved in the process and will harmonize these into one uniform application document.

The DOE shared that its IT specialists are also evaluating potential information system requirements to allow for a smooth facilitation and coordination of documentary exchanges within the DOE and across all key government partners.

At the onset, DOE said EVOSS will have the following minimum attributes:

• A user interface that allows for secure but personalized tracking of application and processing
• A committed timeline for each agency that provides notification triggers to the government agency on the basis of its respective citizen’s charter
• A transparent mechanism that displays bottlenecks that hold up processing time
• A database that includes a step-by-step guide to investors
• An interactive network for exchange of messages and information  between the applicant and the relevant government agency
• A help site that guides the user in navigating the EVOSS

Since the EVOSS requires the close collaboration of different government agencies in order to function properly, the DOE says it hopes to sign Memorandums of Understanding and Agreement with the relevant agencies to clearly define responsibilities and commitments. – Rappler.com