Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Inauguration of the Energy Museum and 25th Anniversary of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA)

Thank you, Secretary Sharon Garin, for your introduction. [Please be seated.]

CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis; the TESDA Director-General Kiko Benitez; Palawan 2nd District Representative Pepito Alvarez; our partners from the private sector; fellow workers in government; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Good morning.

At the inauguration of the Philippines’ first interactive Energy Museum, we are opening a place dedicated to helping every Filipino understand better the vital role that energy plays in our daily lives.

This occasion is especially meaningful because we celebrate at the same time the 25th Anniversary of the passage of the EPIRA.

These initiatives support my directive to the Department of Energy to strengthen public awareness and encourage responsible energy use.

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 for communities.

It is immersive and interactive, and features exhibits on the country’s diverse energy resources and technologies— solar, geothermal, wind, hydro to natural gas, energy storage, and slowly nuclear energy.

Sa tulong nito, mas mauunawaan ng bawat Pilipino kung paano nabubuo, naihahatid, at nagagamit ang kuryente sa ating pang-araw-araw na buhay.

Beyond awareness, this museum is an investment in our people. It stands as a bridge between the classroom and the control room, between curiosity and career.

To every young Filipino who walks through these pods and sees an engineer, a geoscientist, a policy analyst reflected in these exhibits, I say: This could be you. This is the future of the Philippines that will be built by the students who will visit or stand in this museum.

Equally important, the museum underscores the challenges of delivering affordable, reliable, and sustainable power across our archipelagic nation.

If the museum shows how electricity is generated and delivered, the EPIRA@25 Commemorative Book explains how our energy sector came to what it is today.

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.

The government’s response was the EPIRA.

This law restructured the power industry by opening power generation to private investment, establishing the WESM, and creating the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)

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

Sa kasalukuyan, dalawampu’t limang porsyento ng ating suplay ng kuryente ay mula na sa renewable energy. Pinapalawak pa natin ito at ang ating layunin ay umabot ito sa tatlumpu’t limang porsyento pagdating ng 2030 at limampung porsyento pagdating ng 2040.

Binubulungan ko si Sec. Sharon, “talaga ba na maaabot ba natin ‘yan?” She seems very confident and in my experience, Sec. Sharon usually produces and she usually fulfills her promises. [applause]

At the same time, we recognize that the electricity sector reform is an ongoing process. Significant gains have certainly been made, critical challenges remain such as high electricity rates, among others.

And that is why we are working closely with our private partners and the government to advance the proposed amendments to EPIRA, particularly to support the ERC.

During my last SONA the other day, I asked Congress to amend the EPIRA to remove the charging of system loss to consumers, including the corresponding VAT.

It is only fair that Filipino families pay for what electricity they use—not for inefficiencies that really are beyond their control.

In addition, to ensure the country’s overall energy security, we have intensified our energy efficiency and conservation measures. Here in government, we hope to lead by example in energy conservation.

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 percent.

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, unplug unused appliances.

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.

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

Maraming salamat at mabuhay kayong lahat! Thank you. [applause]

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