Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute (PERPI)
PERPI is the Philippines’ statutory independent energy research and policy institute, established by RA 11572 (Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute Act, July 30, 2021). It is attached to the University of the Philippines — not to the DOE — to ensure research independence from the energy department and from political and industry influence [RA 11572, Section 3, 2021].
Governance
PERPI is governed by a 7-member Executive Board chaired by the UP President (ex officio). The remaining 6 members are drawn from the academe (4) and private sector (2), each from a different field (engineering, law, science, statistics, economics, social science, public health). Government agency heads — including DOE and ERC Secretaries — may attend Executive Board meetings only as invited resource persons, not as members [RA 11572, Section 9, 2021].
The Executive Director is a recognized energy expert with at least 3 years’ sector experience, appointed by the UP President for a 5-year renewable term. Upon assumption, the Executive Director must disclose, divest, and terminate all connections with energy industry participants [RA 11572, Section 7, 2021].
Role and Mandate
| Function | Detail |
|---|---|
| Research | Independent multidisciplinary/transdisciplinary energy R&D — rigorous empirical evidence; backed by an annual research agenda set by the Executive Board |
| Policy advice | Assistance to the government, energy regulators, and the legislature on energy policy issues — DOE and ERC are the primary agency clients (§5(c)) |
| Data repository | Repository of all energy-related research, studies, and data generated by the Institute and by external academic, public, and private groups (§5(g)) |
| Capacity building | Training programs and fellowship grants for government agencies, academic researchers (graduate/postgraduate), and private sector energy stakeholders (§4(g)) |
| International linkages | Bridges local and international energy experts; establishes foreign research partnerships |
Research Agenda Link to PEP
The Executive Board sets the annual research agenda in consultation with the Executive Director. The agenda is informed by — but independent of — the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) and issuances of the DOE and ERC [RA 11572, Section 10(b), 2021]. See MOC: Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050 — Volume I .
Financing
| Source | Amount / Mechanism |
|---|---|
| Initial GAA appropriation | PhP 200 million (§16) |
| Ongoing GAA | Annual, based on Executive Board-approved financial plan submitted to DBM |
| Special Account in General Fund (SAGF) | For energy research; accepts external grants, donations, contributions — sources published on website for transparency (§15) |
| Agency contributions | Government agencies may include PERPI research contributions in their own annual budgets (§17) |
| Tax status | Inherits all UP tax exemptions under RA 9500 (UP Charter) as amended by TRAIN Act (§18) |
Independence Safeguards
PERPI’s independence is structurally protected by three interlocking design choices [RA 11572, 2021]:
- Institutional attachment to UP (not DOE) — IRR promulgated by UP, approved by UP Board of Regents (§19)
- No government agency seats on the Executive Board — DOE/ERC heads are resource persons only (§9)
- Executive Director divestment requirement — must sever all energy industry connections upon assumption of office (§7)