DC2022-11-0035: Expanding the Coverage of the Philippine Energy Labeling Program (PELP) for the Compliance of Importers, Manufacturers, Distributors, Dealers and Retailers of Energy Consuming Products (ECPs)

Status: operative
Confidence: high
Effective date: 2022-11-16
Parent law: ra-11285

Department Circular No. DC2022-11-0035, signed November 2022 (exact day illegible in the scanned copy) by DOE Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla. Amends DC2020-06-0015 (the PELP Guidelines) — this is the first of two amendments to DC2020-06-0015 in the corpus; Digest: DC2024-05-0017: Prescribing Amendments to Department Circular No. DC2020-06-0015, as Amended, or the Philippine Energy Labeling Program (PELP) Guidelines follows in 2024.

Background

DOE conducted public consultations on the draft circular on 2 and 30 September 2022, consolidating input from stakeholders in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao [DC2022-11-0035, Whereas clauses, 2022-11]. The amendments follow DC2020-06-0015 §5’s own provision that additional ECPs may be added to PELP coverage on EUMB recommendation, and DC2020-06-0015 §9’s provision for per-ECP implementing guidelines [DC2022-11-0035, Whereas clauses, 2022-11].

Amendments to DC2020-06-0015

§3 — Definitions expanded [DC2022-11-0035, §1.1, 2022-11]. Adds:

Importer — an entity engaged in bringing products into the Philippines from another country or economy
Institutionally-manufactured or sold products — products locally manufactured or imported and directly sold by the supplier to the end-user, put into service there

§5 — Covered Energy Consuming Products replaced [DC2022-11-0035, §1.2, 2022-11]. Before this amendment, DC2020-06-0015 covered only air conditioners, refrigerating appliances, television sets, and lighting products [DC2022-11-0035, Whereas clauses, 2022-11]. This circular expands coverage to the ECPs listed in a new Annex B (Matrix of Covered ECPs) — see Digest: DC2022-11-0035, Annex B — Matrix of Covered ECPs for the full list — spanning seven categories: cleaning and laundry appliances, cooking and food processing appliances, cooling/heating/ventilating appliances, grooming and personal care equipment, ICT equipment, lighting products, and Renewable Energy (RE) products, with additional ECPs addable on EUMB recommendation. (DC2024-05-0017 later adds an 8th category, Auxiliary Devices, to this same Annex B.)

§6.4 — Label placement [DC2022-11-0035, §1.3, 2022-11]: minor wording clarifying that labels are printed and affixed at the prescribed location per the PELP Implementing Guidelines.

§10 — TWG honorarium capped [DC2022-11-0035, §1.4, 2022-11]: Technical Working Group members (primary and alternate) attending a meeting may receive an honorarium capped at PhP500 per meeting or PhP1,000 per month, regardless of meeting frequency, chargeable against EUMB’s regular budget subject to standard government accounting/auditing rules.

§14 — Penalty administration clarified [DC2022-11-0035, §1.5, 2022-11]: Upon determining a prohibited act under §8, DOE may impose administrative fines and penalties per Annex C (Schedule of Penalties and Fines) — see Digest: DC2022-11-0035, Annex C — Schedule of Penalties and Fines for the full schedule. Administrative fines apply without prejudice to criminal liability under the EEC Act, EEC-IRR, and this Department Circular.

Effectivity

Takes effect 15 days after publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation; filed with the UP Law Center - Office of the National Administrative Register [DC2022-11-0035, §4, 2022-11].

Full text: Cleaned copy