President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is slated to outline a plan for energy independence in his fifth State of the Nation Address, as fuel prices continue to climb and consumers feel the impact.
An economist emphasized the need for the address to shift the focus from emergency response to structural reform in the energy sector.
The national energy emergency, declared through Executive Order 110, was intended to accelerate relief measures such as the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport. The declaration alone does not resolve the underlying vulnerabilities that expose the country to market fluctuations.
Marcos is expected to address the status of the emergency during the speech, providing clarity on the government’s next steps.
As a net importer, the Philippines is highly susceptible to global price swings. Diesel prices have surged to as high as 170 pesos per liter amid Middle East disruptions, highlighting the need for strategic reserves, grid modernization to accommodate renewables, and regulatory improvements.
Current measures are largely reactive, relying on short‑term relief rather than investing in reserves, grid capacity, and domestic supply, which leaves consumers exposed to future shocks.
A senior energy executive noted that inflation remains the most pressing concern, worsened by government policies, corporate profit maximization, and successive global crises, and expressed doubt about the administration’s willingness to enforce stronger regulation.
The Energy Secretary stated that the Department of Energy will await new directives from the address, prepared to act to reduce suffering during oil crises.
Last year, Marcos ordered the fast‑tracking of 200 power plants over the next three years and the acceleration of rural electrification efforts.
By November 2025, the grid had incorporated 956 megawatts of new generation capacity and 160 megawatts of added energy storage.
