The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the Designated National Authority (DNA) for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in the Philippines, issued the country’s first Letter of Approval on 16 December 2005 to the NorthWind Power Development Corporation for its 33-megawatt wind turbine power plant located on the foreshores of Bangui Bay in the province of Ilocos Norte. This confirmed that this renewable energy project meets the national criteria for sustainable development and that the Philippine project proponent possesses the legal capacity to participate in the CDM project activity.

The NorthWind Bangui Bay Project represents the first commercial wind power project in the country and in the ASEAN Region and the first of its kind to be connected to the Philippine main grid. In all likelihood, it will also be the first CDM project activity in the country once it gets officially registered by the CDM Executive Board (EB) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The issuance of a Letter of Approval by a Host Country such as the Philippines, is a prerequisite to the submission of a validation report to the CDM EB by a third party duly accredited by the United Nations known as a Designated Operational Entity, requesting the registration of the project activity under CDM.

As one of the flexible mechanisms agreed upon by the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol and the UNFCCC, the CDM is acknowledged as an important vehicle for international cooperation to meet the equal objectives of complying with the quantified greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments of developed countries, and contributing to the sustainable development goals of developing nations that host climate-friendly project activities. By displacing grid electricity generated from highly polluting fossil fuels, the NorthWind Bangui Bay Project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 51,855 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) annually for the first 7-year crediting period from 2008-2012. This renewable energy project also serves to facilitate energy independence and fuel the nation’s economy to higher growth while protecting the country’s ecological integrity.

The DENR also announced the unveiling of the CDM Helpdesk under the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), which was held on January 19, 2006, at the Air Quality Management Training Center, EMB, DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. The CDM Helpdesk primarily aims to make CDM work in the country by providing timely and personalized assistance at an enriched level of detail appropriate to the national development priorities and specific conditions of the State. In particular, the CDM Helpdesk was established to 1) address inquiries related to CDM implementation in the Philippines from all interested parties, including project developers/proponents, local and foreign investors, local government unit officials, NGOs and the general public; 2) serve CDM stakeholders regardless of geographical location by means of appointment, phone, facsimile or email; 3) make available comprehensive information on CDM; 4) offer practical guidance throughout the CDM project cycle; and 5) pr

ovide interfacing with relevant government agencies and among other stakeholder groups. Project developers, potential investors and the interested public are invited to visit the CDM Helpdesk, provisionally located at the DENR Annex Building, DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City with telephone numbers 920-2251 and 929-6626 ext 2109 and telefax number 928-4674.

The creation of the CDM Helpdesk was made possible through the support provided by the Government of Japan by way of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

By: The CDM Secretariat – Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Environmental Education and Information Division of EMB
DENR as the DNA for CDM in the Philippines
Printed in the daily newspaper, The Philippine Star, on 12 February 2006