Marcos: 'Energy security is a shared responsibility'

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged the public to adopt energy conservation measures and support "meaningful reforms" in the country's power sector.

Speaking during the 25th anniversary of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), Marcos highlighted the government's intensified efforts to save energy.

"Last March, after the onset of the war in the Middle East, all government agencies proceeded to reduce their actual electricity and fuel consumption by 10% to 20%," he said.

"Complementing this effort, we encourage every Filipino to take part in the Oras Natin sa Efficiency campaign. Help us conserve electricity. Switch off non-essential lights and unplug unused appliances," Marcos added.

"Moving forward, may this milestone remind us that energy security is a shared responsibility. Let us continue to use our resources wisely, follow energy conservation measures, and support meaningful reforms," he said.

"Together, let us shape an energy sector that is reliable, sustainable, and worthy of the aspirations of our people."

In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos called on Congress to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) to eliminate system loss charges, including the corresponding value-added tax (VAT), passed on to consumers.

"Twenty-five years ago, the Philippine power sector faced a difficult reality. Chronic power shortages, a heavily indebted state utility, and the absence of meaningful competition constrained our ability to meet the country's growing energy needs," Marcos said. "The government's response was EPIRA."

"Today, the results are evident. Our generation capacity has more than doubled, private investment has strengthened our power supply, and the competitive market established under EPIRA has helped create the conditions that support the growth of renewable energy," he added.

Energy Museum

Marcos also led the inauguration of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Museum, the country's first interactive museum showcasing how power and energy systems work.

Photo: Presidential Communications Office

Located on the grounds of the DOE Energy Center, the museum features 11 interactive pods highlighting various energy sources, including solar, hydropower, geothermal, wind, and other technologies.

One of the pods, the Learning Hub, allows visitors to use scientific equipment such as microscopes.

Meanwhile, the Smart Home pod demonstrates what a modern energy-efficient home looks like through smart appliances. One tablet monitors the mock home's real-time energy consumption.

"In line with this commitment, we have established the DOE Energy Museum. This space transforms complex energy concepts into engaging and accessible learning experiences for students, educators, and communities," Marcos said.

"It is immersive and interactive, and features exhibits on the country's diverse energy resources and technologies—solar, geothermal, wind, hydro, natural gas, energy storage, and, eventually, nuclear energy," he added. —VBL, GMA News