Sweeping reforms are urgently needed to strengthen the Philippine power system and address widening gaps between electricity demand and supply, according to a senior researcher.
Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior fesearch fellow Adoracion Navarro said many of the country’s energy challenges are structural and persist even without external shocks such as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Underinvestment remains a core issue, she said, contributing to energy insecurity and system unreliability, especially during peak demand periods.
Navarro urged stronger reforms to improve regulation, coordination and accountability and to ensure the timely completion of infrastructure projects.
She also called for reforms in rate-setting, permitting and right-of-way processes to reduce delays and support renewable energy integration.
