Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon S. Garin headlined the 2026 Market Participants’ Town Hall and Electricity Market Exchange, held under the theme, “WESM@20: Shaping Tomorrow’s Power Market Through Responsive Governance.”
The event marked a significant milestone—the 20th anniversary of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). Since its inception, the WESM has evolved from a regional market serving only Luzon into a robust, unified nationwide platform connecting Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
During her address, Secretary Garin reflected on two decades of progress, noting that key market reforms have been instrumental in fostering greater competition, transparency, and grid reliability. She highlighted that the market’s expansion has been a critical driver in broadening access to clean, sustainable energy sources across the archipelago.
As the Philippine power sector faces the challenges of rising energy demand, the rapid integration of renewable energy and storage technologies, and increasingly active consumer participation, Secretary Garin emphasized that the status quo is not enough. She underscored the urgent need for a more agile, responsive governance framework.
“Our energy landscape is changing rapidly. To meet the demands of tomorrow, we must strengthen coordination among the government, regulators, market institutions, and all industry stakeholders,” said Secretary Garin.
The DOE remains steadfast in its commitment to evolving the power market to meet the demands of the modern era. By championing policy reforms that promote a just energy transition, the Department aims to ensure a stable, secure, and competitive power sector that delivers reliable and reasonably priced electricity to every Filipino home and business.
