(Davao City, 26 October 2023).  The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Davao Region and Provincial Government of Davao de Oro inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the implementation of projects to be funded under the Energy Regulations (ER) No. 1-94 Program as per Department Circular (DC) Nos. 2018-08-0021 and its Supplemental Policy Issuances.

The ER 1-94 issued by the Department of Energy (DOE ER 1-94) is the implementing rules and regulations of Section 5 (i) of the DOE Act of 1992 (RA 7638) which provides that the DOE shall “devise ways and means of giving direct benefits to the province, city, or municipality, especially the community and people affected, and equitable preferential benefit to the region that hosts the energy resource and/or energy-generating facility”. The objectives of this policy are to recognize the contributions made by the affected people and communities, lessen the conflict of rights, and promote harmony and cooperation among the LGUs/Regions and the energy resource developers and/or power producers.

The Memorandum of Agreement shall be the binding instrument of the RDC XI and PLGU Davao de Oro for the utilization of the available Region’s share of the ER 1-94 Development and Livelihood Fund (DLF); and Reforestation, Watershed Management, Health and/or Environment Enhancement Fund (RWMHEEF) from the Aboitiz Power Subsidiaries and in the successful implementation of the projects as stipulated in the document.

Present during the Signing Ceremony are RDC XI Vice-Chairperson and NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim, RDC XI Secretary and NEDA XI Assistant Regional Director Gilberto A. Altura, Davao de Oro PPDC Alicia M. Graciadas, Chief Economic Development Specialist Mario M. Realista, Engr. Mary Natalie C. Acebu of DOE – Mindanao Field Office, Lalaine Balatero and Jane Floresca of Therma South, Inc., Aboitiz Power, Princess Awa of Therma Marine, Inc., Aboitiz Power and the staff of the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Division.

-Arniel A. Alderite, NRO XI