Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged the Department of Energy (DOE) to simplify permit requirements for rooftop solar installations, saying excessive red tape is slowing the wider adoption of renewable energy in the Philippines.
Gatchalian said streamlining the approval process would encourage more households, businesses and public institutions to install rooftop solar systems, helping lower electricity bills, reduce demand on the power grid during periods of peak consumption and lessen the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.
“The problem with solar rooftops is red tape. DOE should reduce the number of steps and requirements that those who want to install solar panels must go through,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
He called on the DOE, local government units and distribution utilities to standardize documentary requirements, shorten processing times and eliminate unnecessary procedures for permits and grid interconnection approvals.
Gatchalian said cumbersome approval processes continue to discourage consumers from investing in rooftop solar despite government efforts to accelerate renewable energy deployment.
He cited Pakistan’s rapid rooftop solar expansion as evidence that consumer adoption can accelerate when governments remove regulatory barriers.
“Pakistan has shown that when consumers are given a practical and affordable way to reduce electricity costs and lessen their dependence on an unreliable power grid, rooftop solar can expand rapidly,” Gatchalian said.
“The Philippines can draw lessons from this experience by making rooftop solar more accessible to households, businesses and public institutions,” he added.
The call comes as the DOE expands initiatives to promote distributed renewable energy, including its Solar Solutions for Government programme, which now covers 15 Metro Manila local government units seeking to deploy solar power and energy efficiency measures in public buildings.
Industry stakeholders have long said inconsistent permitting requirements among local governments and lengthy grid interconnection approvals remain among the biggest obstacles to wider rooftop solar adoption, despite incentives available under the country’s net-metering programme.
The Philippines is targeting renewable energy to account for 35% of its power generation mix by 2030 and 50% by 2040 as it seeks to strengthen energy security, diversify electricity sources and reduce reliance on imported fuels.
Under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 and the government’s net-metering programme, consumers with eligible rooftop solar systems can export excess electricity to the distribution grid in exchange for credits that help offset their electricity bills.
