Where credit is due

In spite of differences and political issues, I believe that we must give credit, where credit is due. I refer specifically to the unexpected but pro-consumer, pro-solar power actions of the Department of Energy as well as House Speaker Bojie Dy and Congressman Sandro Marcos.

This suggestion may surprise our readers and the pro-solar community, considering the fact that the DOE was the one that stirred a hornet’s nest of protest by suggesting and hinting on plans to regulate installers as well as solar power set-ups.

As they say, “If you are not the solution, you are part of the problem.” Evidently the DOE secretary and two congressmen have taken notice of serious negative public sentiment and are effectively redeeming themselves or, in Tagalog, nag babangon puri.

The first to catch my attention was House Bill 10431 or the (proposed) Sariling Kuryente Act to remove unnecessary barriers to rooftop solar panels, battery storage and similar behind-the-meter energy systems.

The measure that seeks to draw the distinction between a power generation company versus personal use was announced last week.

The proposed bill would prohibit unauthorized procedures, technical requirements, equipment specifications and charges. This specific section correctly addresses the reality that not all solar set-ups are the same.

While urban users generally pay for the typical whole house set-up, many people in farms or off grid areas apply the modular set-up where solar power is design specific for water pumps, some for their freezer, others for lights and appliances only.

In the bill, “the Department of Energy would be directed to promote the wider adoption of behind-the-meter systems, remove national and local barriers and improve access to financing, qualified installers and reliable equipment.”

The proposed bill seems so inclusive that “homeowners’ associations, subdivision developers and property managers would be barred from prohibiting installations on property owned or exclusively controlled by the end-user, subject only to reasonable conditions involving structural safety and common property.”

Sandro Marcos and Bojie Dy should have specifically included condominium unit owners who are prevented from placing anything in their balconies, not even plants. In Germany, balcony designed solar panels and collectors are already commercially available.

In their closing statement, Dy and Marcos stated: “Ang mensahe nito ay malinaw: families should be free to invest in their own power supply under fair and uniform rules.” The DOE and ERC will have 15 + 90 days to comply upon effectivity of the bill.

But it seems that the DOE decided to act posthaste, right after the 2026 SONA of PBBM. The DOE quickly issued a circular aligned or very similar in content and intent to House Bill 10431 or the Sariling Kuryente Act. The circular is a quick fix while the house bill, once made into law, becomes a long-term legal fix.

The DOE circular effectively removes red tape for the installation of solar power for own use. Pre-installation clearances and permits will no longer be required by the DOE or the ERC. No need for ERC compliance certificate for small solar and zero export set-ups.

A key feature of the DOE circular is that micro or small solar systems are freed from building permits and compliance certificate rules. As I suggested for Congressmen Dy and Marcos to specifically include condominium units, they should also encourage the DILG to follow the “No building permits required” guidance of the DOE.

Several LGUs have reportedly started charging anywhere from P20,000 to P25,000 for a “building permit” for solar panels. Can someone please clarify, is the solar set-up being classified as a “building” or is it the installation?

If this “generic – bill all” behavior based on the term “building permit” is allowed, what is to stop city hall from collecting money for water tanks, satellite dishes, roof gardens, sunshades, etc.

It takes less than a day to bolt on solar power to a pre-existing roof on a house that is presumably cleared for occupancy. Should Filipinos be further slapped with a P20,000 to P25,000 permit but don’t get anything in return?

If the President, the Speaker of the house, the Majority Leader and the Department of Energy are all on the same page, local governments should not run counter to the goal of enabling Filipinos to generate solar power for personal use.

Perhaps the next move should be for the DOE, DOST and DILG to help small businesses as well as local government offices to fully adopt solar power generation.

One complaint that small business owners repeat is that high electricity bills eat up much of their profit, prevent them from adopting modern technology or expanding business. In a country where employment and job generation is badly needed, solar power would certainly help.

Even provinces and local governments have benefitted in terms of safety, road visibility by adopting solar power. Many local water utilities in provinces could greatly cut costs of running water pumps and facilities by shifting to solar pumps.

Many cities and municipalities can and have reduced maintenance or operating expenses for offices such as town hall and city halls, police precincts and hopefully entire schools.

It would certainly be interesting to hear after a year if the DILG-PNP, DepEd and DOH have managed to adopt solar power technology and how much money they saved.

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