Can the Philippines build a power sector that delivers affordable, reliable, and equitable electricity for all—especially in times of global crisis?
Amid ongoing global tensions and rising fuel prices that continue to put pressure on electricity costs, strengthening the country’s energy sector remains a key priority.
In this context, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) will hold a webinar on May 14, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:30 AM via Zoom, that brings together two recent studies examining critical challenges in the country’s energy sector. The event will provide a comprehensive discussion of how pricing policies and infrastructure reforms can work together to improve energy outcomes in the Philippines.
The first study, “Making Electricity Subsidies Work: Cross-Country Lessons for Philippine Energy Policy,” authored by PIDS Senior Research Fellow Dr. Kris A. Francisco and PIDS Research Analyst Patricia Thea A. Basilio, analyzes the country’s major subsidy mechanisms and draws on international evidence to assess their effectiveness. It highlights persistent issues such as fiscal pressures, leakage, and mis-targeting, while identifying policy approaches that promote efficiency, equity, and better targeting of vulnerable households.
Complementing this, the second study “The Need for Power Transmission Sector Reforms in the Philippines,” by PIDS Senior Research Fellow Dr. Adoracion M. Navarro, examines structural and regulatory constraints in the transmission sector amid rapidly rising electricity demand. It underscores how slow grid expansion, regulatory delays, and coordination challenges contribute to congestion, reliability concerns, and energy insecurity, and proposes reforms to strengthen investment incentives and system performance.
Interested participants may register at https://bit.ly/pidsevent051426.
The event will also be livestreamed on the PIDS and SERP-P Facebook pages.
Read the full studies at https://doi.org/10.62986/dp2025.42 and https://doi.org/10.62986/dp2025.57.
DOWNLOAD PRESENTATIONS:
Presentation of Dr. Kris Francisco, PIDS Senior Research Fellow
Presentation of Dr. Adoracion Navarro, PIDS Senior Research Fellow
Presentation of Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta, Energy Regulatory Commission Former Chairperson
Presentation of Mr. Antonio Barcelona, Department of Energy Power Market Development Division Officer-in-Charge
