The Department of Energy (DOE) welcomed the Asian Development Bank’s assessment that recognized the Philippines as one of the leading energy responders in the Asia-Pacific region following the government’s comprehensive policy response to global oil market disruptions arising from developments in the Middle East.
Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Philippines implemented seven out of eight major policy responses identified by the ADB, reflecting the government’s decisive and coordinated approach to protecting Filipino consumers and strengthening national energy security.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said the ADB’s recognition affirms that the country did not merely react to global oil market disruptions, but responded with urgency, coordination, and strategic direction.
“Price volatility does not affect all Filipinos equally. That is why the government pursued layered interventions to provide direct relief to vulnerable sectors, while also strengthening fuel inventories and supply buffers to ensure the continued availability of petroleum products,” Secretary Garin said.
Among the government’s major responses were fuel assistance programs, the temporary suspension of excise taxes on LPG and kerosene under Executive Order No. 114, staggered fuel price adjustments in coordination with oil companies, strategic fuel reserve and supply buffer initiatives, intensified price monitoring, targeted assistance for the transportation sector and vulnerable households, and accelerated investments in renewable energy and energy diversification.
Working with other government agencies and industry partners, the DOE supported fuel assistance initiatives for affected sectors, including jeepney and tricycle drivers, fisherfolk, and farmers.
At the same time, the DOE, through the Philippine National Oil Company–Exploration Corporation, helped secure additional fuel supply to reinforce the country’s petroleum buffer.
The government also rolled out energy conservation programs, remote work arrangements, transport demand management initiatives, and supply continuity measures to ensure stable and reliable access to energy amid global disruptions. Secretary Garin said the ADB’s findings further reinforce the government’s resolve to strengthen the country’s long-term energy security.
“The Philippines remains structurally vulnerable because of its heavy dependence on imported fuel. This is why the DOE continues to accelerate renewable energy development, expand indigenous energy sources, and strengthen emergency response frameworks,” she said.
The Secretary noted that while short-term measures helped cushion the immediate impact of global market disruptions, the long-term answer remains greater energy independence through renewable energy, indigenous resources, and deeper regional energy cooperation.
“The ADB report offers more than recognition. It gives us an opportunity for honest reflection on what more needs to be done. We remain committed to building a more secure, resilient, and self-reliant energy future for the Filipino people,” Secretary Garin added.
Secretary Garin also thanked the DOE’s partners in industry, national and local government, and the Filipino people, whose discipline and cooperation helped make the government’s interventions effective.
“The road to energy security is long, but the ADB’s assessment confirms that we are moving in the right direction — and with urgency,” Secretary Garin said.
