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MEDIA RELEASE
03 September 2026
DOE Goes “Beyond EPIRA” with 25-Year Commemorative Book, Renewable Energy Toolkit
The Department of Energy (DOE) marked 25 years of power sector reform with the launch of the EPIRA @ 25 Commemorative Book and the Renewable Energy (RE) Implementation Toolkit on 03 September 2026 at the Energy Center in Taguig City, drawing lessons from a quarter-century of reform while providing practical guidance for the country’s continuing energy transition.
Held under the banner “Beyond EPIRA,” the event reflected on the reforms introduced under Republic Act No. 9136, or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) of 2001, while drawing lessons to guide the next phase of the country’s power sector development.
“Twenty-five years of EPIRA is more than a milestone to celebrate. It is an opportunity to look at how far we have come, recognize where gaps remain, and determine what more needs to be done to provide every Filipino with reliable and affordable electricity,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said.
The EPIRA @ 25 Commemorative Book traces the evolution of the Philippine power sector, from the financial and supply challenges confronting the National Power Corporation in the 1990s, through the restructuring introduced by EPIRA, to the priorities shaping the sector’s next chapter. It examines key reforms and institutions, including the Energy Regulatory Commission, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, and Retail Competition and Open Access, while looking ahead to transmission modernization, energy storage, offshore wind, and smart grid technologies.
Over the past 25 years, the country’s installed generation capacity has more than doubled, from around 13,000 megawatts (MW) in 2001 to more than 32,000 MW today. The book also examines continuing challenges, including electricity costs, the further expansion of retail competition, and the need to provide communities with dependable electricity service.
Complementing the Commemorative Book is the Renewable Energy Implementation Toolkit, which translates the country’s renewable energy policies and opportunities into practical guidance for local government units, health facilities, schools, businesses, distribution utilities, communities, and government agencies considering renewable energy solutions.
The Toolkit covers renewable energy technologies, project development, financing options, and sector-specific approaches for assessing potential projects. It provides practical guidance on how renewable energy can help institutions reduce electricity expenses, improve reliability and resilience, expand energy access, and support more sustainable operations.
“Renewable energy should translate into practical benefits for our people --- more reliable power for hospitals and schools, greater opportunities for communities, and more efficient and sustainable operations for government and businesses. Through this Toolkit, we want to give institutions a clearer pathway from identifying opportunities to taking informed action,” Secretary Garin said.
The Toolkit supports the government’s broader effort to increase renewable energy’s share in the country’s power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030. From 2022 to 2025, around 22 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity were awarded under Green Energy Auction Rounds 1 to 4, building the pipeline of renewable energy projects toward the country’s targets.
These two publications were made possible with the collaboration and support of the Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia (CASE) programme, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, under the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
“As we go beyond EPIRA, our task is to build on the gains and lessons of the past 25 years. These must translate into better policies, stronger institutions, greater participation, and ultimately an energy system that delivers reliable, affordable, and secure power for every Filipino,” Secretary Garin said. ###