By Tracy Cabrera
SENATE, Pasay City — With the country at a decisive point amid the global energy crisis, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian emphasized that local regulatory frameworks must be designed to reduce barriers and strengthen investor confidence.
During a high-level dialogue, regulators, financiers, developers, lawmakers, and civil society groups delivered a stark assessment of the challenges in meeting renewable energy targets and protecting households from volatile fossil fuel prices.
Gatchalian urged the Department of Energy (DOE) and other sector stakeholders to revamp the current energy roadmap with a vision of achieving full sustainability through renewable energy sources.
The senator cited ongoing drilling at the Camago-3 gas well as a potential boost to the country’s energy security amid rising global fuel prices.
“While it may take time before this translates into actual supply and lower prices, it represents a much-needed light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
The Camago-3 well is part of the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power Project, a key energy asset that supplies a significant portion of Luzon’s electricity requirements. The project has long played a central role in the government’s efforts to reduce reliance on imported fuel and stabilize power generation costs.
Gatchalian stressed that the Camago-3 development highlights the urgent need for sustained exploration and greater investment in the country’s energy sector.
“This underscores the importance of ensuring sufficient supply and improving affordability through continued investment in our energy sector,” he added.
The Philippines remains heavily dependent on imported oil and coal, making it vulnerable to global price fluctuations and external shocks. Recent increases in fuel prices have contributed to inflationary pressures, affecting transportation fares, food prices, and electricity rates nationwide.
Gatchalian has been among lawmakers advocating for a diversified energy mix that includes natural gas, renewable energy, and other indigenous sources to strengthen long-term energy resilience.
The DOE has yet to release a definitive timeline for when output from Camago-3 could begin contributing to the national grid, as testing and validation activities are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, international environmental law organization ClientEarth stressed that achieving energy security in the Philippines requires immediate and coordinated reforms in law, regulation, and financing.
“The choices made now about infrastructure, markets, and finance will determine whether the country locks in dependence on costly fossil fuels or builds a competitive, resilient clean energy future,” said ClientEarth chief executive officer Laura Clarke during the dialogue with lawmakers and stakeholders.
As the Philippine government shifts toward sustainable energy sources, Clarke framed the transition as a strategic national decision rather than a distant policy goal.
“That urgency is heightened by the Middle East crisis, which is driving gasoline and diesel prices nearly 100 percent higher in the Philippines and prompting the declaration of a national energy emergency,” she said.
Currently, renewable sources account for roughly 25 percent of the country’s energy mix, with targets of 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. Industry leaders say these goals are achievable, but three major obstacles remain: fragmented legal and permitting systems, weak and outdated grid infrastructure, and limited investment due to inadequate financial frameworks and disclosure standards.
Clarke underscored the critical role of legal systems in the energy transition.
“The transition is not only about technology or ambition, but also about the rules that govern how projects are approved, how markets operate, and where money flows,” she said.
In response, officials from the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission emphasized the importance of regulations that encourage renewable energy integration and grid expansion.
DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara stressed the need for balance in policymaking.
“The law has to be stable, but it cannot stand still,” Guevara said, warning that rigid regulations could slow deployment while unstable policies may discourage investors.
She added that reforms should include streamlined permitting, clearer land-acquisition rules, single-window processing systems, and improved risk allocation to protect consumers without discouraging long-term investors.
Clarke also emphasized that clear and well-designed legal and regulatory frameworks can accelerate renewable energy development and attract sustained investment.
She concluded that the challenge now is to act with urgency and technical precision to strengthen the country’s energy security and safeguard the welfare of its citizens.
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