IEMOP PRESENTS THE PHILIPPINE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY FORUM (PEPIF) 2025 MINDANAO LEG
Cagayan De Oro City, Philippines
The Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), in coordination with the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission, (ERC) has successfully concluded its annual Philippine Electric Power Industry Forum (PEPIF) last 3 April 2025 at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
Now on its third installment, with this year’s theme: “Accelerating Philippine Renewable Energy Transition through Innovation and Collaboration”, PEPIF 2025 brought together key stakeholders in the Philippine electric power industry and discussed pressing issues, fostered collaboration, and promoted synergy amongst stakeholders centered at fast-tracking energy transition in the country.
“By your very presence here, we are already collaborating. By the time you leave the hall today, you will be changed”-These were the opening words given by Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara of the DOE in her welcome remarks.
Delving into her presentation, the Undersecretary discussed key policy updates to facilitate the Philippine’s energy transition. These plans include the launch of mandatory and voluntary programs towards developing the country’s renewable technologies as follow:
- The full commercial operations of the Renewable Energy Market (REM) that serve as venue for mandated participants to comply with their RPS requirements;
- The continuing implementation of the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) which now sees growing numbers of renewable energy suppliers and GEOP end-users;
- and the Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP), which has successfully secured around 5000 MW of committed capacities.
She added that, while the Voluntary REM is currently under evaluation, there are several programs that are in the pipeline- these include the Capacity Market, targeted by December 2025, Carbon Credits and Carbon Policy, and the Futures Market.
As she concluded her message, Usec. Guevara assures that the DOE is committed to pursue an energy scenario that is safe, secure, and sustainable. “We are also committed to making sure that our consumers find electricity to be affordable. We are committed to adopt technological advancements and foster collaborations as a way to transform energy with renewables and unlock the full potential of the Philippine energy sector. With your help, all of these will be possible”, Usec Guevara said.
The guests of honor, Atty. Joseph Donato J. Bernedo, Administrator and CEO of PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority and Cong. Sergio C. Dagooc of APEC Party List highlighted several significant issues that the country’s energy industry is currently facing, primarily focusing on more effective means of energy transition and achieving total electrification for the country. Atty. Bernedo emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating that we must work together; industrial estate administrators, government policy makers, and power industry leaders, to build an energy framework that supports industrial growth. On the other hand, Cong. Dagooc emphasized in his keynote message the importance of operating the energy industry while keeping in mind consumer centricity. “Let us embrace the spirit of collaboration and innovation as we work together to accelerate the Philippine renewable energy transition- but we should not forget to collaborate also with our consumers, the electricity end-users. After all, the industry does not exist for itself but for those who consume electricity”, Cong. Dagooc said.
Meanwhile, ERC Chairperson Monalisa C. Dimalanta highlighted the notable steps that have been taken in advancing energy shift which are summarized in the following key points:
- Promotion of the Net-Metering Program, where the ERC recorded a 121% surge of end-users;
- Integration of upcoming GEAP winning bidders to the grid; and
- Accelerating participation in the Retail Market through the Retail Aggregation Program (RAP) and GEOP.
To fully enable the transition towards RE, Chair Dimalanta shared that the ERC is moving for a regulatory reset, review of market rules and technical codes, as well as the development of rules for advance metering infrastructure. “What is important is we ask the right questions and go beyond the numbers; We need to look beyond the numbers and get back to the story- get back to being the fuel to the economic lives of our people”, Chairperson Dimalanta mentioned.
On a different topic, Emmanuel V. Rubio, President and CEO of Meralco PowerGen Corporation, shared MGEN’s path to a Low-Carbon Future guided by the Meralco Sustainability Pillars: Power, Planet, People, and Prosperity. Mr. Rubion mentioned that MGEN and its partners established joint acquisition of power assets and LNG terminals for improved energy security.
Furthermore, Jomel R. Cristobal, Manager for Project Review and Monitoring of the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), provided insights on the challenges and opportunities under Green Grid Financing. Mr. Cristobal urged the importance for further transmission assets development and proposed solutions for enabling grid financing, for as he simply put it – there is no transition without transmission. In the retail sector’s perspective, Raymond Carl R. Roseus, President of the Retail Electricity Suppliers Association (RESA), gave recommendations on transitioning the retail market towards renewable energy, among which include providing incentives for deployment of emerging renewable energy technologies, reducing the timeline for switching, and aiming for a more intensified campaign for GEOP. Mr. Roseus also pointed out that during the pilot PEPIF in March 2023, where the concerns of the retail sector were first raised thru a panel discussion segment, the ERC has since came up with the omnibus retail rules in 2024 to address those concerns.
Jeffrey Calderon, Chief Operating Officer of Huawei Digital Power Philippines, explained several concepts and technology updates on the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and how it supports RE transition. He also discussed risks and opportunities relating to increased integration of BESS in our power system. Cesar V. Camaongay, General Manager of Merbau Corporation, the energy arm of JG Summit Holdings, recommended the adoption of investor-friendly frameworks to democratize access to renewable energy in his discussion on innovation for community solar and distributed assets.
On the other hand, Atty. Norman Roland Ocana III of Schneider Electric provided insights on sustainable manufacturing and shared their company’s experience and insights relating to an integrated approach for Energy Transition from the perspective of an industrial consumer – to strategize, digitize, and decarbonize.
The whole-day forum ended with an insightful panel discussion on advancing a secure energy future led by Asec. Mylene C. Capongcol (DOE), Dr. Rose Marie Mendoza, PhD (Board of Investments), Juan Eugenio L. Roxas (FDC Utilities, Inc.), Collen B. Tarcelo (MORESCO1) and Dr. Fernando Aldaba, PhD- Ateneo de Manila. Moderated by Ben Kritz of The Manila Times, this concluding segment highlighted challenges, innovations, and pathways to sustainable power as discussed on different perspectives – from policy makers to developers’ side and the academe.
Overall, PEPIF 2025 has become an effective forum that highlighted the advocacies and long-term plans of the government in synergy with the entire electric power industry stakeholders. In support to the industry’s goal in providing secure and sustainable energy future, IEMOP will continue to contribute to the cause and initiate platforms like PEPIF.
Speakers from the DOE, ERC, FDC Utilities, MORESCO-1, MGEN, Huawei Digital Power, Schneider Electric, Board of Investments and Ateneo de Manila University with guests of honor from PHIVIDEC and APEC gathered at the PEPIF2025 in a shared goal of Accelerating Philippine Renewable Energy Transition through Innovation and Collaboration.
