At least four legislative energy measures will be reviewed by the Senate Committee on Energy in the 18th Congress, which will occur by the end of July.

The first measure involves the creation of a national policy and framework that would propel the development of electric vehicles in the public and private sectors, which is being endorsed by Senate committee on energy chairman Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian.

It aims to spur technological innovations in the sector.

Other bills that are awaiting passage are the Microgrid Systems Act for unserved and underserved areas; the Energy Advocate Act which aims to improve the consumer-advocacy responsiveness as well as the judgment of relevant stakeholders through the creation of the Office of the Energy Advocate (OEA).

Another legislative bill is the institutionalization of the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute, which will be managed by energy experts. 

As stated in a Manila Bulletin report, the Philippines is one of the countries which lack energy policies and research on the area of technology innovations.

“We wanted to have a well-rounded legislative agenda,” Gatchalian said regarding on the pursuance of the four energy legislative measures.