Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

New geothermal exploration efforts are underway in the Philippines, a nation that has some of the world's largest untapped sources of volcanic heat. Noel Celis, AFP

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Energy

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174477559437920181010_geo.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">New geothermal exploration efforts are underway in the Philippines, a nation that has some of the world&#x27;s largest untapped sources of volcanic heat. <em>Noel Celis, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA — The Supreme Court has upheld Executive Order No. 30, issued in 2017 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, which created the Energy Investment Coordinating Council, a body tasked to speed up the approval of energy projects for power generation, transmission and other services. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/focus/10/10/18/going-geothermal-philippines-revs-up-flagging-green-energy-engine">Going geothermal: Philippines revs up flagging green energy engine</a></div><p>In a decision of the en banc promulgated on November 5, 2024, the court dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by pro-environment groups and individuals such as Quezon for Environment, Atimonan Power to the People, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, Msgr. Emmanuel Maria Villareal. </p><p>EO 30 established minimum guidelines to streamline and shorten the process of approving Energy Projects of National Significance or EPNS, which include presumption of prior approvals, a 30-day deadline to act on applications and automatic approval if no action is taken within the deadline.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/4/11/meralco-power-rates-to-go-up-in-april-1119">Meralco power rates to go up in April</a></div><p>Respondents to the petition are former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea and then Energy Investment Coordinating Council chairperson Jesus Cristino Posadas.</p><p>The petitioners however claimed that EO 30 went beyond the authority of the President and argued that it violated their right to a healthy environment for bypassing requirements like the Environmental Compliance Certificate. </p><p>The petitioners also said the order set unrealistic deadlines for complex projects, some of which normally take more than 1,000 days to process.</p><p>The Supreme Court, however, rejected the arguments of the petitioners and reiterated that the President has the power to streamline government processes and the order is in line with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.</p><p>“The contentions raised by petitioners, though gallant, were regrettably misplaced,” the court said in the decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/4/2/-power-supply-ok-for-dry-season-elections-energy-dept-1547">Power supply OK for dry season, elections: Energy dept</a></div><p>The court also stated that the petitioners were not able to prove that the mechanisms available under existing environmental laws, rules and regulated proved futile or were rendered useless by the EO. </p><p>The court also ruled that the issuance of an Environmental Protection Order as prayed for by the petitioners, was not appropriate because it applies to violations of environmental laws and not legal challenges. </p><p>Meantime, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen dissented to the decision and argued that EO 30 is unconstitutional.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/3/3/energy-dept-pushes-power-conservation-as-summer-begins-2141">Energy dept pushes power conservation as summer begins</a></div><p>He stated in his dissenting opinion that EPIRA’s declared policies include the acceleration of the total electrification of the country as well as the assurance of socially and environmentally compatible energy sources and infrastructure.</p><p>“One should not be sacrificed for the other and every effort must be taken for all the declared policies to come to fruition,” Leonen said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CvoqGmGy9fQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div>

<p>EO 30 established minimum guidelines to streamline and shorten the process of approving Energy Projects of National Significance or EPNS.</p>

EO 30 established minimum guidelines to streamline and shorten the process of approving Energy Projects of National Significance or EPNS.

SC upholds Duterte admin EO on speedy approval of energy projects

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SC upholds Duterte admin EO on speedy approval of energy projects

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 16, 2025 12:19 PM PHT

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