# DC2021-01-0001 — Guidelines for the Qualifications, Assessment, Registration, and Certification of Energy Conservation Officers (CECO), Energy Managers (CEM), and Energy Auditors (EA) ## Department Circular No. DC2021-01-0001 Signed: 11 January 2021 by DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi Effectivity: Fifteen (15) days following publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation; filed with the UP Law Center - Office of the National Administrative Register --- ## WHEREAS RECITALS 1. RA 7638 (Department of Energy Act of 1992) §2 states State policy to ensure continuous, adequate, reliable, and economic energy supply through judicious conservation, renewal, and efficient utilization of energy, to keep pace with the country's growth and economic development. 2. RA 11285 (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, "EEC Act") §3 mandates a framework for introducing and institutionalizing fundamental policies on energy efficiency and conservation, including promotion of efficient/judicious energy utilization, increased use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, and delineation of responsibilities among government agencies and private entities. 3. EEC Act §5 directs DOE to initiate and maintain collaborative efforts with the commercial, industrial, transport (CIT), and power sectors to ensure EEC Act compliance. 4. DC2019-11-0014 (EEC-IRR) §49 provides for a system to assess and certify energy conservation officers and energy managers, raising professional standards in energy management. 5. EEC-IRR §54 provides for guidelines on qualification, requirements, review, and evaluation of Energy Auditors. 6. EEC-IRR §§63 and 66 classify Designated Establishments by energy consumption and require energy audits and CECO/CEM employment, among other obligations. 7. Memorandum Circular MC2020-05-0001 ("Directing All Designated Establishments under the Commercial, Industrial and Transport Sectors to Submit Energy Consumption Reports") provided the classification of Designated Establishments. 8. A Call for Comments on the draft guidelines was posted on the DOE website 12 June 2020, with comments received until 29 June 2020. 9. DOE conducted a Virtual Public Consultation on the draft guidelines on 30 June 2020. --- ## OPERATIVE PROVISIONS **Section 1. Title.** This Department Circular shall be known as the "Certification Guidelines for CECO, CEM and EA." **Section 2. Scope and Coverage.** Prescribes guidelines on the assessment, registration, and certification of energy conservation officers, energy managers, and energy auditors covering Designated Establishments under MC2020-05-0001. **Section 3. Definition of Terms.** - **3.1 Certified Energy Conservation Officer (CECO)** — a professional who obtains CECO certification after demonstrating high levels of experience, competence, proficiency, and ethical fitness in the energy management profession, responsible for supervision and maintenance of Type 1 Designated Establishment facilities for proper energy consumption management and other functions necessary for efficient/judicious energy utilization under the EEC Act. - **3.2 Certified Energy Manager (CEM)** — a professional who is a four-year-course graduate, who obtains CEM certification after demonstrating high levels of experience, competence, proficiency, and ethical fitness in energy management, chosen by Type 2 Designated Establishments to plan, lead, manage, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate sustainable energy management implementation within their organizations. - **3.3 Energy Auditor (EA)** — an individual or entity with proven credibility and competence to conduct an energy audit. **Section 4. Qualifications of CECO, CEM and EA.** - **4.1 CECO:** at least 2 years continuous hands-on experience in installation, operation, and maintenance of energy-consuming machines/equipment in facilities with energy consumption for Type 1 Designated Establishments. - **4.2 CEM:** graduate of a 4-year course (preferably engineering), with at least 3 years continuous hands-on experience in installation, operation, and maintenance of energy-consuming machines/equipment in facilities with energy consumption for Type 2 Designated Establishments. - **4.3 EA:** at least 1 year continuous experience in energy audits. **Section 5. Responsibilities of CECO and CEM.** - **5.1** Manage energy consumption of facilities, equipment, and devices. - **5.2** Administer: (5.2.1) implementation and improvement of energy efficiency measures; (5.2.2) regular energy audits; (5.2.3) energy monitoring and control; (5.2.4) preparation and regular review of periodic energy consumption and energy conservation program reports. - **5.3** Other responsibilities under the EEC Act, EEC-IRR, and this Department Circular. **Section 6. Responsibilities of EA.** - **6.1** Conduct energy audits to optimize energy performance of Designated Establishments. - **6.2** Provide technical reports to CECO and CEM. - **6.3** Other responsibilities under the EEC Act, EEC-IRR, and this Department Circular. **Section 7. Registration of CECO, CEM and EA.** Registration is with DOE-EUMB: - **7.1** CECOs: registration accompanied by a copy of PRC license (when applicable) and proof of continuous hands-on experience for Type 1 Designated Establishments. - **7.2** CEMs: registration accompanied by a copy of PRC license or diploma for a 4-year course (or equivalent), and proof of continuous hands-on experience for Type 2 Designated Establishments. - **7.3** EA: registration accompanied by proof of energy-audit experience. - **7.4** Registrations under EEC-IRR §49 and MC2020-05-0001 §IV are deemed compliant under this Department Circular. - **7.5** DOE-EUMB shall issue streamlined registration guidelines within 60 days of this Department Circular's effectivity. **Section 8. Certification of ECO, EM and EA.** Consistent with EEC-IRR §§49 and 54, the certification system shall be issued within 3 years of this Department Circular's effectivity. - **8.1** DOE and TESDA shall develop the CECO certification training module based on an approved scope of practice, competency standards with clear assessment/certification process, aligned with the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) and applicable international standards. TESDA, with DOE, develops guidelines on training, assessment, and certification for PQF qualification levels 1–5 and registration of Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, including nonprofit and private training institutions. - **8.2** DOE, in consultation with stakeholders, shall develop a CEM certification and assessment system for licensed engineers — a certificate program on energy management ensuring competencies/skills to promote the country's sustainable energy goals. - **8.3** DOE and TESDA shall develop EA certification, including qualification requirements, review, and evaluation process. - **8.4** Subject to §9, certification is granted to CECOs and CEMs upon passing the prescribed examination/assessment. - **8.5** DOE, in consultation with TESDA, shall issue EA certification upon assessment of qualification requirements, review, and evaluation. **Section 9. Continuing Qualification.** CECOs must undergo energy efficiency/conservation seminars conducted by TESDA or TESDA-approved third parties. CEMs must undergo energy efficiency/conservation seminars conducted by DOE or DOE-approved third parties. **Section 10. Energy Management Courses.** Pursuant to EEC-IRR §10, DOE shall coordinate with CHED to integrate energy management into relevant engineering courses, and to align EEC Act requirements with curriculum development on advanced energy and green building per RA 11393 §5 ("Advanced Energy and Green Building Technologies Curriculum Act"). **Section 11. Prohibited Acts.** Subject to §12 penalties: - **11.1** CECO failure to register with required PRC license (when applicable) and proof of continuous hands-on experience for Type 1 Designated Establishments. - **11.2** CEM failure to register with required PRC license (when applicable) and proof of continuous hands-on experience for Type 2 Designated Establishments. - **11.3** EA failure to register with required proof of energy-audit experience. - **11.4** CECO failure to comply with mandatory continuing TESDA-conducted/approved seminars. - **11.5** CEM failure to comply with mandatory DOE-conducted/approved seminars. - **11.6** Failure to comply with DOE enforcement orders. **Section 12. Fines and Penalties.** DOE may impose fines and penalties for §11 violations. Schedule of fines and penalties is Annex A of this Department Circular. After due process, certification revocation may be accompanied by blacklisting of the individual. **Section 13. Transitory Provision.** Pending issuance of training modules/curricula, Designated Establishments must comply and register their CECOs and CEMs consistent with §7. Upon issuance of training modules/curricula, DOE shall provide a compliance timeline for registered CECO/CEM to undergo related trainings/seminars. **Section 14. Trainings and Seminars.** DOE and TESDA, in parallel with §8 requirements, shall develop guidelines for approving third-party training/seminar institutions in a separate issuance. **Section 15. Periodic Review.** DOE shall regularly review, update, and issue necessary rules for the sector in consultation with stakeholders. **Section 16. Information, Education and Communication Activities.** Pursuant to EEC-IRR §85, DOE shall develop and undertake a national awareness/advocacy program on energy efficiency/conservation and pursue stakeholder partnerships. **Section 17. Repealing Clause.** Provisions of other circulars, orders, issuances, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Department Circular are repealed, amended, modified, or superseded accordingly. **Section 18. Separability Clause.** If any section/provision is declared unconstitutional or invalid, unaffected parts remain in full force and effect. **Section 19. Effectivity.** Takes effect 15 days following publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation. Filed with the UP Law Center - Office of the National Administrative Register. Issued at Energy Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. **ALFONSO G. CUSI** Secretary, Department of Energy 11 January 2021 --- ## Notes on scan quality - Signature block confirmed visually: "ALFONSO G. CUSI, Secretary," dated "JAN 11 2021" (rasterized page 6, since OCR rendered the signature/date stamp as garbage characters). - Annex A (below) was acquired separately (2pp scan, EUMB-EPMPD Quality Management System document control template) and is a genuinely separate document, not part of the main circular's own 6-page pagination. --- ## ANNEX A — Schedule of Fines and Penalties Document control header: EUMB-EPMPD Quality Management System, Doc Ref No. EUMB-EPMPD-QR-XXX, Revision No. 0, Effective Date xx-xxxx-xx (template placeholders, not filled in on this copy). Pursuant to Section 30 of the EEC Act, the following shall be the penalties provided for violations of the prohibited acts enumerated under Section 11 of this Department Circular: | Violation | 1st Offense | 2nd Offense | 3rd Offense | |---|---|---|---| | Failure of CECOs to register with the required copy of a Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) license (when applicable) and other document/s that would provide proof on continuous hands-on experience in the installation, operation, and maintenance of energy-consuming machines and equipment in facilities with energy consumption for Type 1 Designated Establishments. | PhP10,000.00 | PhP15,000.00 | PhP20,000.00 with revocation of Certification | | Failure of CEMs to register with the required copy of a PRC license (when applicable), and document/s that would provide proof on continuous hands-on experience in the installation, operation, and maintenance of energy-consuming machines and equipment in facilities with energy consumption for Type 2 Designated Establishments. | PhP10,000.00 | PhP15,000.00 | PhP20,000.00 with revocation of Certification | | Failure of EA to register with the required document/s that would provide proof on experience on energy audits. | PhP10,000.00 | PhP15,000.00 | PhP20,000.00 with Revocation of Certification | | Failure of CECO to comply with the mandatory continuing energy efficiency and conservation seminars conducted by TESDA or any third-party institutions duly approved by TESDA. | PhP10,000.00 | PhP15,000.00 | PhP20,000.00 with Revocation of Certification | | Failure of CEM to comply with the mandatory energy efficiency and conservation seminars conducted by the DOE or any third-party institution duly approved by the DOE. | PhP10,000.00 | PhP15,000.00 | PhP20,000.00 with Revocation of Certification | | Failure to comply with issued orders of the DOE in the discharge of its enforcement powers. | PhP10,000.00 | PhP15,000.00 | PhP20,000.00 with Revocation of Certification | *The imposition of the administrative fines and penalties stated above shall be on a "per violation" basis and without prejudice to the revocation of the certification and/or blacklisting of the said individual. **Reading the table:** unlike DC2022-11-0035's Annex C (varying tiers per violation), this schedule is uniform — all six §11 violations follow the same flat PhP10,000 → 15,000 → 20,000-with-revocation progression across 1st/2nd/3rd offenses, on a per-violation (not per-product-model) basis.