Insider Spotlight
The agreement, signed during the 2nd MAP Energy CEO Forum in Makati, reflects a growing consensus that the country’s energy challenges—from supply gaps to affordability and transition risks—require joint execution rather than parallel initiatives.
Why it matters
The Joint Energy Action Agenda for 2026 to 2029 aligns policy direction, investment priorities, and implementation timelines in support of the Philippine Energy Plan 2023–2050.
By creating a shared roadmap, the agenda is designed to shorten decision cycles, reduce regulatory friction, and mobilize private capital more efficiently.
Industry leaders described the agenda as a shift from consultation to collaboration, with structured technical working groups and shared accountability between regulators and operators.
Driving coordinated execution
Prime Energy president and CEO Donnabel Kuizon-Cruz, who served as technical working group lead, said the agenda was shaped through a series of MAP-led roundtable discussions with the DOE and energy stakeholders.
The process allowed industry operators, utilities, and policymakers to surface bottlenecks and align on practical solutions before formal adoption.
The resulting framework prioritizes reliable electricity delivery across major demand centers and off-grid communities, while balancing system stability, cost management, and sustainability goals.
Role of industry partnerships
Beyond policy alignment, executives at the forum emphasized collaboration across the energy value chain—from upstream fuel supply to midstream infrastructure and power generation. Indigenous natural gas was cited as a clear example where coordination is critical, as domestic production, infrastructure investment, and market access must move in sync.
“Indigenous natural gas remains a strategic anchor of our energy system,” Cruz said in a press release on Dec. 19, 2025. “As we expand renewables, gas—supported by domestic production and efficient midstream infrastructure—helps keep power secure and affordable for Filipino households and businesses.”
What’s next
Private operators are expected to play a central role in executing the agenda, including investments that support baseload power, grid resilience, and access for underserved areas.
Prime Energy’s ongoing Malampaya Phase 4 drilling program, valued at $893 million, was highlighted as an example of how industry initiatives can align with national priorities through structured collaboration.
Looking ahead, MAP and DOE officials said the agenda will be reviewed regularly to ensure momentum is sustained, reinforcing the view that long-term energy security will depend less on individual projects and more on how effectively industry and government work together. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
