A Church-backed energy coalition accused the government on Thursday of failing to adequately protect consumers from rising electricity costs amid the global energy crisis, urging a faster transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy.
The call came during the fourth National People’s Convention on the Energy Crisis and Energy Transition organized by the Power for People Coalition (P4P) at the University of the Philippines Diliman.
P4P said government measures implemented in the three months since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran have largely maintained a business-as-usual approach that benefits power and energy conglomerates while leaving ordinary consumers exposed to higher electricity rates and inflation.
“The energy crisis we face today is the consequence of decades-long fossil dependence,” said Gerry Arances, P4P convenor. He said the country failed to learn from the energy disruptions triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022 and remains heavily dependent on coal, gas, and oil.
Arances noted that only 22.9% of the country’s energy supply comes from renewable sources, while coal accounts for 58.4% and natural gas for 17.4%.
“Now, history has repeated itself, as the US/Israel – Iran war sparked rate hikes, with our dependence on fossils leaving us vulnerable to further bill shocks,” he said.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, president of Caritas Philippines and co-convenor of P4P, said the crisis has highlighted the risks of relying on imported fossil fuels.
“Whether it is coal, gas, or oil, we continue to rely on energy sources that expose us to volatile global markets, environmental harm, and long-term economic risks,” Alminaza said.
“As recent events have shown, this dependence leaves us vulnerable to crises far beyond our shores,” he added.
The convention brought together electricity consumers, Church leaders, workers, community organizations, and energy advocates to discuss both immediate relief measures and long-term reforms in the energy sector. Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Saturnino Juan and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Arnan Panaligan were among those who attended.
The coalition also renewed its criticism of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), saying the law’s privatization framework has failed to deliver affordable electricity despite promises of lower costs.
“Under EPIRA, privatization of the power industry turned electricity into a source of profit, rather than a public service,” Arances said. “So long as corporations are at the helm of the power sector and the government continues to relinquish its responsibility of delivering affordable and reliable energy, what should be a basic right for all Filipinos shall continue to be treated as a commercial item.”
P4P called on the government to pursue immediate measures to shield consumers from rising electricity prices while advancing policies that would reduce dependence on fossil fuels and strengthen public accountability in the energy sector.
“We are calling for a transition away from coal, gas, and oil toward renewable energy systems that are clean, affordable, reliable, and accessible,” Alminaza said. “We are calling for an energy future that puts people before profit and the common good before private gain.”
