Energy think tank Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) said Tuesday amending the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001 is not warranted at this time.
“Instead, the most pressing energy issues faced by Filipinos can be more effectively and swiftly addressed by amending the implementing rules and regulations and updating the circulars that implement EPIRA provisions,” ICSC said.
The group also called for the abolition of the automatic fuel cost pass-through provisions in power contracts, which they said burdened consumers financially for years.
“The administration’s progress in enhancing national energy infrastructure, including notable improvements in transmission lines, is a positive development. Now, the next step is to further modernize the grid, making it more flexible and distributed by integrating indigenous and renewable energy sources, ensuring that the country’s power system fits the energy needs of Filipinos,” it said.
ICSC also welcomed efforts to help ease the payments of electric costs for consumers but said “these remain temporary, band-aid solutions.”
“While having sustainable, reasonably-priced, and reliable power for all Filipinos remains a commitment in this year’s SONA, what we ultimately need is to source power from indigenous and readily available sources, and to immediately move away from a baseload-centric, fossil-fuel centered power system,” it said.
The ICSC also called on the Marcos administration to prioritize and invest in climate action as part of the country’s better development pathway, including making climate finance available and accessible across all sectors and communities; accelerating the transition towards indigenous, renewable energy sources; and building safer, more inclusive infrastructure for public transport.
“We welcome the President’s recognition of climate and energy as important issues for the Philippines, and the urgency for action in this year’s SONA. ICSC hopes that this signals a broader agreement that climate action is better development, and doing otherwise is not only counter-intuitive but also detrimental to our collective development,” the group said.
The group also welcomed the Philippines’ selection as the host country of the United Nations’ Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FLD).
“It is a truly significant moment for the FLD to be hosted by a developing country. With this, we must ensure that our national systems and processes are prepared once the FLD becomes operational; getting our baselines right and utilizing the experience and expertise of our climate scientists and research institutions on attribution science will be critical,” it said.
“While the FLD is a milestone win for climate action, it is not a cure-all, and a national strategy will be crucial in allowing the Philippines to maximize access and support other developing countries, as well,” it said.
ICSC said it is looking forward to its leadership in leveraging climate finance to support climate-vulnerable countries.
