The Department of Energy (DOE) is refining the country’s energy efficiency fiscal incentives as part of efforts to align them with the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act and the proposed CREATE MORE measure, or CREATE to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy. 

The update was discussed during the event “Swedish Perspectives on Energy Efficiency in the Industrial Sector,” held on December 5 at The Peninsula Manila where DOE Director Patrick T. Aquino said the revisions aim to strengthen support for companies investing in energy-efficient technologies, systems, and equipment. 

He noted that the DOE is coordinating closely with the Board of Investments to streamline guidelines, improve consistency across agencies, and make incentives more accessible to firms undertaking efficiency upgrades.

Under the proposed revisions, eligible energy efficiency projects may benefit from tax and duty-free importation of equipment and income tax incentives. Aquino said the agency also intends to shorten endorsement timelines, targeting a processing period of around 20 working days to encourage greater investor participation in the sector.

The DOE emphasized that fiscal support remains critical as many establishments continue to face high capital costs and long payback periods for efficiency improvements. Industry groups at the event echoed this concern, noting that small and medium enterprises often struggle to finance retrofits even when potential savings are significant. 

Speakers also pointed out that stronger incentives can accelerate adoption in areas such as cooling systems, industrial processes, building management systems, and thermal efficiency technologies.

The updated incentive framework is expected to complement the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, which mandates regular audits, reporting, and management systems for thousands of designated establishments. DOE officials said harmonizing regulatory requirements with fiscal incentives is central to increasing compliance and scaling efficiency investments across commercial and industrial sectors.

How can revised incentives under CREATE MORE encourage more industries to accelerate their investments in energy efficiency technologies?

Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join our Viber community for more updates.