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MEDIA RELEASE
08 September 2026
DOE, DOT Help Tourism Establishment Cut Energy Costs, Improve Efficiency
Hotels, resorts, and other tourism establishments are getting practical support to reduce energy costs while maintaining the comfort and quality of service expected by guests, as the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Tourism (DOT) expand energy assessments, technical assistance, and access to financing for energy-efficiency improvements.
In Metro Manila, 46 tourism establishments have undergone on-ground energy assessments, helping operators better understand their consumption patterns, identify potential energy-saving opportunities, and determine practical measures to improve efficiency. The broader engagement reached 147 representatives from tourism establishments, Designated Establishments, government agencies, energy practitioners, and other stakeholders.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said improving energy efficiency can help tourism establishments better manage one of their operating costs while continuing to provide reliable and quality service.
“Energy is a significant operating cost for hotels, resorts, and other tourism establishments. Helping them use power more efficiently means helping them manage costs while maintaining the comfort and quality that guests expect. Our goal is to make energy efficiency practical and accessible by connecting establishments with the support they need to invest in improvements,” Secretary Garin said.
Acting on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen energy conservation measures and advance meaningful reforms in the country’s power sector, the DOE is bringing energy-efficiency interventions closer to businesses and other key economic sectors. The initiative also supports Executive Order No. 110, s. 2026, reflecting the President’s directive to strengthen business resilience amid volatile global energy conditions.
The Metro Manila consultations identified some of the key barriers establishments face in adopting energy-efficiency measures. Participants cited access to financing for efficiency upgrades as a priority, alongside the need for more training, clearer energy audit guidance, and direct technical assistance. Establishments also emphasized that energy-saving measures must be implemented without compromising guest comfort and service quality.
To help address these concerns, tourism establishments were connected with financing options that can support energy-efficiency investments, including the Small Business Corporation’s Turismo Asenso Loan Program (TALP) and the Land Bank of the Philippines’ TOURISM Plus Lending Program. Industry representatives from AyalaLand Malls Inc. and Megaworld Hotels & Resorts also shared energy-efficiency and sustainable operations practices that other establishments can consider adopting.
The assistance forms part of the DOE-DOT initiative, “Strengthening Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy Implementation Through Stakeholder Engagement in the Tourism Sector,” which provides tourism establishments with energy-use assessments, technical and compliance guidance, and information on available financing.
Energy Utilization and Management Bureau Director Patrick T. Aquino said the initiative is intended to translate energy-efficiency policies into practical improvements for tourism establishments.
“By identifying energy-saving opportunities early and helping establishments determine the appropriate measures for their operations, we can make energy efficiency a practical part of how tourism businesses operate and grow,” Director Aquino said.
The initiative is anchored on the Memorandum of Agreement signed by the DOE and DOT on 09March 2026 and supports the implementation of Republic Act No. 11285, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and Department Circular No. DC2024-05-0011, which guides DOE support for and monitoring of Designated Establishments toward more efficient and responsible energy use.
The DOE and DOT will next extend the initiative to tourism establishments in other partsof thecountry, with activities scheduled in the Visayas in Malay, Aklan, from14 to 18 September; Mindanao in Cagayan de Oro City from 28 September to 02 October; and Luzon in La Unionfrom12 to 16 October. The areas were prioritized based on their high concentrations of DOT-accredited accommodation establishments.
Through the nationwide expansion, the DOE and DOT aim to enable more tourism establishments to identify where energy can be used more efficiently and turn those opportunities into practical improvements in their operations, strengthening the sector’s ability to deliver quality service while using energy more responsibly. ###