The government is moving to clear regulatory bottlenecks for a proposed 300-megawatt wind farm in Nueva Ecija, signaling a stronger push to turn policy support for renewable energy into projects that break ground rather than stall in paperwork.
The Board of Investments (BOI), through its One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSAC-SI), convened an inter-agency meeting to address permitting issues affecting the San Jose Wind Power Project, a P-led investment of San Jose Onshore Wind Power Corp., the local unit of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).
Certified as a Strategic Investment under Executive Order No. 18 in January, the project will cover Lupao, Carranglan, and San Jose City in Nueva Ecija.
BOI Investments Assistance Service Director Ernesto C. Delos Reyes Jr. said the project remains on schedule, with government intervention focused on resolving procedural issues before they become costly delays.
The discussions highlighted a recurring challenge in Philippine infrastructure development: aligning national policies with local government permitting processes. Delos Reyes said greater harmonization is needed to eliminate overlapping documentary requirements, provide regulatory clarity, and give investors a more predictable approval process.
Participating agencies tackled key approvals covering land conversion, land reclassification, and the Environmental Compliance Certificate, agreeing on immediate steps to streamline procedures and strengthen inter-agency coordination.
“Executive Order No. 18 institutionalizes a whole-of-government approach that strengthens coordination across agencies and LGUs,” Delos Reyes said, adding that the framework is designed to accelerate priority infrastructure while maintaining legal and environmental safeguards.
The meeting was attended by Danish Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin, who reaffirmed Denmark’s support for CIP Philippines and the country’s clean energy ambitions.
Officials from national agencies and local governments in Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan also joined the discussions.
As the Philippines races to expand renewable energy capacity, the success of projects like San Jose may hinge as much on faster permits as on stronger winds.
