Private Sector Participation in International Task Force on Philippine Regulatory Implementation and Project Partnering

US Hydropower formed a coalition in September 1999 to work on several priorities in the Philippines.  The association has been working with US AID, the U.S. and Philippine Departments of Energy and Winrock International in this effort.  The coalition was formed to identify potential projects, business partners, and opportunities to make recommendations for the emerging policy framework.  The newly passed legislation will open opportunities to provide critical input on subsequent legislation, regulation, and legal issues to allow projects to move forward.  The Philippines is the only market where industry expertise on policy framework has been requested before it has been adopted.  This represents a tremendous opportunity to U.S. industry and the government of the Philippines to attract investment.  The U.S. industry is very interested in discussing regulatory details. 

New business partnerships have been formed as a result of our association efforts over the last few years.  An invitation to work closely with the small hydro trade association and on the policy issues will provide more opportunities to partner U.S. companies in the Philippines.  There are several optimization projects being discussed in Mindanao, and the asset privatization process will also offer US Hydropower an opportunity to promote the interests of the U.S. hydropower industry. 

US Hydropower will be working with the members of the coalition to provide additional policy recommendations in the regulatory implementation process.  US Hydropower will participate in this process to communicate the investors’ view.  Draft regulation will be unveiled to the industry for its response.  The industry needs to be able to respond quickly to commenting on draft language, and needs to work to partner U.S. and Philippine companies to take advantage of the restructured energy sector.