Stop transferring all risks to consumers [Inquirer]
by Pete Maniego, published through Inquirer.net [READ HERE] I have spent almost two decades in the Philippine energy sector—as an engineer, lawyer, executive, chair of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB), and now senior policy adviser to Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), which recently launched Presyo-PH, a price-watch platform helping consumers understand what drives their electricity bills. The single biggest driver, month after month, is the generation charge—fuel cost, priced in dollars, sourced from abroad, subject to disruptions we do not control. The Iran conflict has made that vulnerability impossible to ignore. When the Strait of [...]
Unpacking the power bills [BusinessWorld]
by Monalisa C. Dimalanta | Published via Business World Online The economic turmoil brought about by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East has led to heightened attention to the energy situation of the country. To be sure, our energy security had been precarious even before the events of Feb. 28, given that we import almost 100% of our oil requirements, and around 60% of our power mix comes from coal which is likewise almost 100% imported. While the increased attention on our energy situation has finally mainstreamed to everyday conversations on the search for long-term solutions to [...]
Don’t waste this oil shock [Inquirer.net]
by Pete Maniego | March 13, 2026| Published by Philippine Daily Inquirer | READ THE STORY HERE Somewhere in Tondo, a jeepney driver is doing the math at the gasoline pump. Fuel is up again— because the Middle East is restless again. He's calculating whether today's passengers cover a full tank, or whether his family eats a little less this week. Elsewhere, an overseas Filipino worker's (OFW's) family is doing a similar calculation: will the conflict that's pushing oil prices up also disrupt the remittance they depend on? When the region destabilizes, the Philippines doesn't just lose [...]
Brace for the Summer of ’26 [BusinessWorldOnline.com]
by Monalisa C. Dimalanta | March 13, 2026| Business World | READ THE STORY HERE From all indications, it looks like we are in for a summer to remember. The months of March to June (or even July) have always been precarious for the power sector in the country. This is often called the "colorful" season, one that is marked by red and yellow alerts indicating the level of supply margin (or lack thereof) in the grid. It can also be the "black" season when temperature rises above the forecast and demand soars leading to power outages [...]
Low-hanging fruit: Quick ways to generate clean, reliable power [Inquirer.net]
by Pete Maniego | December 29, 2025| Published by Philippine Daily Inquirer | READ THE STORY HERE MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines cannot seem to graduate from its long history of power outages. From the crippling brownouts of the 1990s to today’s recurring alerts of thin reserves, energy insecurity remains a persistent reality. Every dry season brings the same headlines: soaring demand, unplanned shutdowns, and looming threats of rotational blackouts. The challenge before us is twofold — meeting rapidly rising electricity demand while accelerating the shift to renewable energy. While long-term, large-scale projects are vital, there are low-hanging [...]