The Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Inc. on Friday questioned the Department of Energy’s new procurement rules disallowing the Swiss Challenge mode.
Philreca, one of the largest groups of electric cooperatives in the country, slammed DoE’s new procurement rules, questioning the guidelines in the awarding of several energy projects and their impact on current participants.
Philreca, which represents 121 ECs across the country, said Department Circular No. DC2018-02-0003, which became effective on February 10, 2018, as well as a related advisory released later in March, had “unfair and disruptive effects,” especially regarding distribution utility participants in ongoing bidding and compliance processes.
The group said the DoE issuances now essentially limited electricity procurement through competitive bidding, unlike before when the “Swiss challenge” mode was allowed.