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In his fourth State of the Nation Address on July 28, 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr outlined the administration's priorities for the next 12 months and his agenda for his six-year term. One of the key areas of focus is the energy sector, with a particular emphasis on natural gas and renewable energy.
The Philippines is leading the charge in planned natural gas projects in Southeast Asia, with a dozen more proposed projects in the pipeline. Currently, there are six gas plants in operation in the Philippines. The administration has prioritized natural gas, with the recent approval of a law promoting natural gas to investors as a "transition" fuel to intermittent renewable energy.
In addition to natural gas, the administration is planning to roll out solar power home systems to more than a million households by the end of President Marcos, Jr's term in 2028. The Energy Regulatory Commission will fast-track the implementation of a net metering programme for households using solar energy.
However, not all regions of the country have access to electricity. Approximately 6% of the Philippines still does not have electricity, with efforts focused on remote households in regions like Mindanao, the Negros Island region, Luzon's Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan, as well as isolated villages in the Cordilleras and other mountainous or island areas.
The current administration's focus on natural gas and renewable energy has not gone unchallenged. Krishna Ariola, energy and climate programme head of research institution Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, called for the administration to phase out fossil fuel reliance and raise ambitions for renewable energy. Ariola expressed concern that the administration cannot keep approving and profiting from climate-polluting projects like coal and gas plants and then expecting Filipinos to bear the brunt of disasters.
Greenpeace Philippines' senior climate campaigner, Virginia Benosa-Llorin, criticized fossil fuel companies as the major profiteers from the climate crisis and flood suffering in the Philippines. However, the specific company names were not listed in the available information. Benosa-Llorin emphasized that major oil and gas companies are the top contributors to climate change and reap trillions in profits annually while Filipinos bear the brunt of devastation from floods.
In response to the criticism, President Marcos, Jr ordered a review of the government's flood control projects and reprimanded government officials that have been profiting from them. The Department of Public Works and Highways will submit to President Marcos, Jr a list of all flood control projects from every region that were started or completed in the last three years. The list will be published so that locals who witness the construction of these projects can freely scrutinize and share what they know that will help in the government's investigations.
The administration has also allocated a record US$17 billion for climate change initiatives this year, approximately US$5 billion of which was proposed specifically for flood control. The Department of Energy is visiting SIPCOR, the only power supplier in Siquijor province, to monitor the steps being implemented for a long-term solution to their electricity supply. Siquijor island is currently under a state of calamity due to a prolonged electricity shortage caused by malfunctioning generators.
In the aftermath of floodwaters from last week's southwest monsoons and tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, which caused at least US$87 million worth of damages to infrastructure, US$9 million in agriculture losses, and at least 30 lives lost, the president's speech was criticized as "far too myopic" by Virginia Benosa-Llorin, senior climate campaigner of watchdog Greenpeace. Benosa-Llorin stated that the president ignored the biggest offenders: fossil fuel companies profiting off the suffering of Filipinos.
References:
- Greenpeace Philippines Press Release
- Philippine Star Article
- Rappler Article
- Greenpeace Philippines Statement
- Philippine Daily Inquirer Article
- President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr's focus on natural gas and renewable energy, primarily in the form of solar power home systems, is a key part of his administration's energy agenda for the next six years.
- The administration has prioritized renewable energy as a "transition" fuel to intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind energy, as outlined in a recently approved law.
- However, Krishna Ariola, energy and climate programme head of Center for Energy, Ecology and Development, has argued for a phase-out of fossil fuel reliance and higher renewable energy ambitions.
- Greenpeace Philippines' senior climate campaigner, Virginia Benosa-Llorin, has criticized fossil fuel companies for profiting from the climate crisis and flood suffering in the Philippines.
- In response to this criticism, President Marcos, Jr has ordered a review of flood control projects and reprimanded government officials profiting from them.
- The administration has allocated a significant amount, US$17 billion, for climate change initiatives this year, with a portion, US$5 billion, proposed specifically for flood control.
