Press Releases

Makati City, Philippines — September 8, 2025 — The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), together with its Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE&EE) Committee, successfully conducted its annual pillar event, the Energy Smart Forum 2025, last August 28 at Dusit Thani Manila. The theme of this year’s forum is "Driving Energy Revolution: Charting the Path to a Sustainable and Resilient Future." 

Since 2011, the ECCP has organized the forum to tackle critical issues in the Philippine energy sector and discuss opportunities for cross-sector collaboration. This is the 14th run of the forum.

In his Welcome Remarks, ECCP President Paulo Duarte emphasized the urgent need to turn ambition into action through his call to translate the event’s discussions into tangible outcomes. “Together, let us turn today’s insights into concrete actions that will not only meet our energy needs but also ensure a future that is greener, smarter, and more resilient,” he stated. Duarte underscored that the Philippines stands at a critical juncture in its energy journey. 

As one of the fastest-growing economies in the region, the country faces a rapidly increasing energy demand—making it imperative to adopt sustainable and forward-looking solutions to power future growth.

For the Opening Remarks, Dr. Marco Gemmer, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration to address the country’s growing energy needs. “We can work together on setting the enabling environment for the European private sector to have more partnerships in the Philippines [private sector]  in order to tackle quality energy challenges within the increasing demand here in the Philippines. This is where we can level the partnership between the European Union and the Philippines,” he stated. 

Dr. Gemmer affirmed the EU’s readiness to scale up its engagement with the Philippine government, the European Chamber of Commerce, and other member states to advance this shared objective.

Power Shift: The New Rules Shaping the Future of Philippine Energy 

The first session of the forum opened with a keynote address delivered by Hon. Mylene C. Capongcol, Undersecretary at the Department of Energy (DOE), on behalf of Secretary Sharon S. Garin. 

In her address, Undersecretary Capongcol painted a compelling vision of the country’s energy future — one that is green, resilient, and inclusive. “Let us take a moment to imagine the future that we are building together: a Philippines where every home and business is powered by green, reliable, and affordable energy. A grid that is smart, flexible, and disaster-resilient, capable of absorbing new technologies. Communities once in the dark, now lightened by micro-grids and renewable energy systems. Streets where electric vehicles dominate, supported by nationwide charging infrastructure. Our bodies of water where offshore wind turbines rise, generating thousands of megawatts of clean power. A diversified mix of hydrogen and nuclear-complement renewables ensures energy security while decarbonizing, and a society where every Filipino benefits from cleaner air, better health, more jobs, and improved quality of life. These are not just ambitious aspirations. It is the very future we are working to deliver,” she stated.

Following the keynote, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) was represented by Executive Director Atty. Nancy Aurora Q. Fajardo, who spoke on the critical role of policy and regulation in shaping the country's energy transition. 

“We at the ERC are working on the proposed amendments to the Philippine Grid Code, the Philippine Distribution Code, and the Microgrid Guidelines to address emerging challenges and support the country’s renewable energy targets,” Atty. Fajardo explained. 

She emphasized that these regulatory updates aim to formally integrate standards for energy storage systems (ESS), as well as grid-forming and smart inverters, enabling ESS to participate in auxiliary service markets by providing frequency regulation, reserves, and voltage support. These efforts, she noted, are essential in laying the foundation for a modernized and future-ready power grid capable of supporting next-generation technologies.

The session also featured a pre-recorded message of support from Ms. Helen Clarkson, CEO of the Climate Group, who emphasized the importance of collective action in accelerating the global shift to clean energy. 

“No one can achieve the energy transition alone. It’s a collective, collaborative effort. Together, we can determine the speed at which we move—whether you're a supply chain member, a retailer, a manufacturer, or a financier. Your role in the energy transition is crucial,” she stated. Ms. Clarkson’s message reinforced the forum’s overarching theme of partnership and inclusivity, highlighting that meaningful progress depends on the active participation of all stakeholders across sectors and industries.

During the event, Ms. Ruth Yu-Owen, President & CEO of Upgrade Energy Philippines and Co-Chairperson of the ECCP Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Committee, relaunched the REPH100 Initiative — a collaborative platform aimed at accelerating the private sector’s shift to renewable energy. 

In her address, Ms. Yu-Owen acknowledged the many uncertainties that organizations face when transitioning to clean energy, stating: “Where do we even start? What are our options? Who can we trust? If you have all these questions, these questions can be addressed if you become a member of the REPH100, and we will do it together.” Her remarks emphasized the importance of partnership and shared learning in overcoming the complexities of the energy transition.

Unleashing the Full Power of Renewable Energy

For the second session, Hon. Mylene C. Capongcol returned onstage to deliver the presentation of Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevarra. In her remarks, Undersecretary Capongcol emphasized that achieving the country’s renewable energy goals is not just about meeting targets but embarking on a shared journey. 

“Let me bring back our core message: the target is a shared journey. It requires political and private sector courage and the support of the Filipino people. The DOE has set the target, let us build this reality into a future that will be truly prosperous, equitable, and sustainable for every Filipino,” she stated.

This was followed by a presentation from Mr. Jasper Manlapaz, Head of External Affairs at Copenhagen Infrastructure Service Co. (CIP), who spoke on the role of renewable energy in advancing community development through a blue and green bio-circular economy. 

He highlighted the strong collaboration among all levels of government in the Philippines as a key driver of success. “We have witnessed remarkable coordination not only in the halls of Malacañang, but also from national government agencies, provincial governments, municipalities, and our barangays. This robust coordination is a cornerstone of CIP’s continued success in the Philippines,” Manlapaz shared, emphasizing that localized and inclusive partnerships are critical in accelerating the transition to clean energy.

Energy Efficiency in Action

The third session began with a presentation from Director Patrick Aquino. As Director of the Energy Utilization Management Bureau, he emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting energy efficiency and conservation (EEC). He said, “The DOE recognizes that to accelerate much needed investments in the EEC, it is essential to provide incentives.” 

This was followed by a talk on Smart Energy Use: How Businesses Can Cut Costs & Reduce Carbon Footprints by Ms. Theresa Acedillo-Lapuz, Vice President for External Affairs at the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance. 

She posed a thought-provoking question, “From a global perspective, why does the world need to reduce its carbon footprint?”. She noted the broader environmental imperatives of efficiency. 

The session concluded with a presentation from Engr. Jherald Casipit, Assistant Vice President for Retail Energy Solutions and Services at Aboitiz Upgrade Solar Inc. / AdventEnergy. He underscored the practical benefits of energy efficiency, stating, “Efficiency is not just a technical upgrade. It’s a smart investment with measurable returns.”

Leveraging Emerging Technologies and Innovative Systems 

The fourth and final session of the forum focused on advancing the country's energy infrastructure and the feasibility of integrating innovative solutions. Mr. Redi Allan B. Remoroza, Assistant Vice President and Head of the Transmission Planning Department at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, emphasized that “green integration requires green expansions, enhanced forecasting, and updates on the Green Code technical requirements.” 

He highlighted the need for system flexibility through flexible generation and energy storage solutions. 

Complementing this perspective, Mr. Jeremy Jay Magdaong, Lecturer from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at De La Salle University Manila, presented an ongoing study titled: Refining Yardsticks for Energy Equity, Energy Security, and Environmental Sustainability. 

Mr. Magdaong noted that their ongoing academic modeling efforts benefit greatly from platforms like the Energy Smart Forum. He said, “the things that we measure — and how we measure something is as important as the thing we are measuring.  Better yardsticks means better decisions.”

Senator Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian delivered the closing keynote, highlighting the critical role of policy in accelerating the country’s energy transition and ensuring long-term energy security and sustainability. “ECCP is one of the most active business chambers in terms of energy, and we would like to get your thoughts and suggestions on what bills we should be pushing for… Especially nowadays that the Philippines is getting interests in terms of investments. I know that a majority of the investment pledges in the Philippines are in the field of renewable energy…”

Senator Gatchalian’s speech concluded a day of insightful discussions and collaborative exchanges aimed at shaping a more resilient and forward-looking energy landscape for the Philippines.

This year’s Energy Smart Forum was made possible through Event Partners: The Embassy of Austria in Manila, Royal Danish Embassy in Manila, Embassy of Finland in Manila, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Manila, The Embassy of Netherlands in Manila, The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, Philippine Center for Energy Inc, Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance, Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, Allotrope Partners, Aboitiz Power, Aboitiz Upgrade Solar Inc., HSBC, Wartsila, MPower, Sta. Clara Power Corporation, Stratcon.PH, Ditrolic Energy, Komand.AI Software Solutions, The Manila Times, IMPACT, The Philippine Business and News.

For official photos, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCsmyN