ICSC: Luzon and Visayas grid alerts underscore the strong need for a more resilient, distributed power system
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities REACTIVE QUEZON CITY, 17 April 2026 –– The yellow alerts raised over the Luzon and Visayas grids yesterday highlight a recurring vulnerability in the Philippines’ power system: the country’s energy sector remains baseload-centric and relies on large power plants, making the grid more exposed to disruptions that affect Filipino households and businesses across the country. The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) has constantly emphasized that relying heavily on only a few large power plants makes the energy system less flexible and unreliable. Even short-term outages or plants operating below normal capacity [...]
ICSC delves into PHL energy emergency: Renewables are key to transforming country’s energy system from import dependence
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities ANALYSIS QUEZON CITY, 30 March 2026 – The Philippines’ declaration of a national energy emergency under Executive Order No. 110 highlights a long-standing reality that can no longer be ignored: heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels exposes the country to global supply and fuel price volatility. The situation also puts the spotlight on the clear and massive opportunity to transform the energy system for our archipelago with locally driven, fit-for-purpose solutions that optimize the abundance of renewable energy (RE) resources with available technology, building a more affordable, reliable, and secure power system for [...]
ICSC on PHL energy emergency: Resilience must be a long-term anchor, empower LGUs to advance solutions
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities REACTIVE QUEZON CITY, 25 March 2026 – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) No. 110 yesterday, declaring a state of national energy emergency as impacts of the US-Israel war on Iran threaten the availability and stability of the country’s energy supply. EO 110 adopts the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), the Philippine government’s coordinated response framework. Its implementation will be under the oversight of the UPLIFT Committee, which will be chaired by the President and joined by the Executive Secretary and the Secretaries of the Department of [...]
Qatar LNG disruption exposes risks of fossil fuel reliance to PHL energy security
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities PRESS RELEASE QUEZON CITY, 20 March 2026 — Rising tensions in the Middle East have caused extensive damage and have disrupted operations of Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export hub. For the Philippines, this can potentially result in higher electricity prices and supply issues both in the short and long term, highlighting the country's heavy reliance on imported fuel. LNG is traded in a highly interconnected global market where prices respond to geopolitical shocks, supply chain disruptions, seasonal demand swings, and policy [...]
Eastern Visayas as leader in renewable energy [Inquirer]
By: Mel Matthew Doctor | August 29, 2025 | Published by Inquirer | READ THE STORY HERE Eastern Visayas holds an untapped potential that could transform not only its own economy, but also strengthen the Philippines’ entire energy sector. With one of the world’s largest geothermal reserves, and promising solar, wind, hydro, and tidal energy resources, the region is well-positioned to help address our most urgent need for clean, affordable, and secure energy. The stakes could not be higher. The Philippines faces a significant power deficit, with frequent grid alerts especially during peak summer months. In off-grid islands, power [...]