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MEDIA RELEASE
09 September 2026
DOE Targets 100,000 Households in Microgrid Push for Total Electrification
More than 100,000 unenergized households in remote and last-mile communities could benefit from future microgrid development, as the Department of Energy (DOE) identified an initial 369 unserved and underserved areas across 23 provinces for potential inclusion in the upcoming micro grid competitive bidding.
The initial list is intended to give prospective Microgrid Service Providers (MGSPs) early visibility of potential project areas, allowing them to begin preliminary technical assessments and investment planning ahead of future Competitive Selection Process (CSP) rounds under the Microgrid Systems Act (MGSA). The 369 areas, covering about 101,468 unenergized households, remain subject to further validation, updating, and final determination by the DOE.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said microgrid development is an important part of the government's effort to bring reliable electricity to communities that remain beyond the reach of adequate power services.
“For families in remote and last-mile communities, electricity means more than keeping the lights on. It supports education, livelihoods, health services, communications, and economic opportunity. Through microgrid development, we want to bring reliable and affordable electricity closer to communities that remain unserved, while giving capable investors a clear pathway to help us deliver it,” Secretary Garin said.
The initial list covers areas in Antique, Basilan, Bohol, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cebu, Davao Occidental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Lanao del Sur, Marinduque, Masbate, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Palawan, Quezon, Southern Leyte, Sulu, Surigao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Samar, and Zamboanga del Sur.
The publication follows continuing validation undertaken by the DOE in coordination with distribution utilities, local government units, and other stakeholders. By providing the initial list ahead of formal CSP rounds, the DOE aims to give prospective investors more time to evaluate potential sites, assess project requirements, and prepare viable proposals.
The initiative forms part of the DOE's continuing implementation of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Microgrid Systems Act under Department Circular No. 2025-04- 0007, which seeks to improve the efficiency, transparency, and investor responsiveness of the competitive selection framework for microgrid development.
To further improve project readiness and reduce development risks, the DOE has partnered with the United Kingdom's Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) program through the initiative, “Accelerating Microgrid Deployment for Energy Access and Economic Development.”
Under the technical assistance program, a site-specific assessment framework has been developed to support pre-feasibility studies and improve the evaluation and packaging of prospective microgrid projects. Ten unserved areas in Camarines Sur and Palawan have undergone detailed assessment and validation under the UK PACT program. The resulting technical data and analyses will be made available to prospective MGSPs to support more informed investment and deployment decisions.
Building on this work, the DOE intends to apply the assessment framework in future CSP rounds to strengthen project identification, evaluation, and prioritization. A second phase of the UK PACT technical assistance program is also being prepared, covering an additional 15 to 25 unserved and underserved areas for detailed assessment and validation.
The DOE emphasized that the publication of the initial list is without prejudice to future updates and refinements. Additional areas may be included, while certain areas may be validated, reclassified, clustered, refined, or removed based on updated technical information, stakeholder consultations, and policy considerations. A final list of unserved and underserved areas, aligned with the National Total Electrification Roadmap, will be issued prior to each applicable CSP round for MGSPs.
Areas not included in a particular CSP round may still be considered for electrification through Unsolicited Proposals, consistent with Section 15 and Annex D of the Revised IRR of the MGSA. Qualified MGSPs, DU-Operated MGSPs, and other entities authorized under Section 6 of the Act may also independently assess potential microgrid opportunities outside the published list, subject to applicable requirements.
Interested parties are encouraged to monitor official DOE issuances for the final list of areas, CSP schedules, bidding guidelines, and related requirements.
Through the continuing validation and preparation of potential microgrid sites, the DOE aims to build a stronger pipeline of viable projects that can attract responsible private investment and, ultimately, bring reliable and affordable electricity closer to Filipino families in communities that remain unserved or inadequately served. ###