PASAY CITY -- Finally, the country can soon boast of a cohesive all-in-one institution that will focus on technical know-how and enable the Philippines to keep up with technological innovations and energy and policy research, Senator Win Gatchalian said.

“Isang malaking katuparan na matagal na nating minimithi ang magkaroon ng isang energy research and policy institute na nakatuon at malayang makakapagsaliksik ng mga panuntunan at mga makabago o scientific breakthroughs na magpapaunlad sa sektor ng enerhiya ng bansa,” Gatchalian said on the President’s signing of Republic Act No. 11572, the law establishing the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI).

Initially passed by the Senate during the 17th Congress, Gatchalian expressed appreciation for the enactment of the measure under the Duterte administration.

“An independent research institute, PERPI will be a think-tank, a laboratory, an innovation incubator, and a sparring partner of the government energy policy apparatus all-in-one,” said Gatchalian, Senate Energy Committee Chairperson and principal author of the law.

He also expressed his gratitude to Senators Joel Villanueva, Migz Zubiri, Risa Hontiveros, and Ronald dela Rosa who co-authored the law.

As a publicly-funded institute attached to the University of the Philippines (UP), the results of PERPI’s research and policy development activities can be utilized to craft energy sector reforms for the benefit of the national economy and the lives of the Filipino people, the senator said.

PERPI, according to Gatchalian, is also envisioned to establish linkages with government agencies, other universities, and private and public institutions on existing energy research and policy studies, develop programs and capacity building trainings on energy, enhance the masters and doctoral pool of researchers and faculty in the field of energy, and serve as the repository of all energy-related researches, studies, and data.

An illustrious team of seasoned academicians and energy sector professionals will carry out the tasks of the institute under the direction of a full-time Executive Director who will be a recognized expert in energy policy and research development, he said. (OSWG