The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Philippine Economic Zone Authority) has expressed support for elevating energy efficiency projects under the country’s investment incentive framework, signaling broader policy backing for efficiency-driven investments in ecozones.

PEZA Acting Deputy Director General for Policy and Planning Emmanuel D. Cortero made the statement during the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance) General Membership Meeting on May 20 in Makati City, where he stressed energy efficiency as increasingly critical to industrial competitiveness amid rising energy costs and climate pressures.

He reaffirmed PEZA’s collaboration with the alliance, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2026, aimed at accelerating adoption of energy-efficient technologies and systems across economic zones.

Cortero also cited ongoing ecozone initiatives such as district cooling, tri-generation systems, and the use of alternative fuels including hydrogen, LNG, and LPG.

“These efforts are actively laying the groundwork for reduced carbon emissions and improved energy efficiency,” he said.

He added that these initiatives align with the government’s broader development agenda under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s “Bagong Pilipinas” program.

Policy alignment with industry gains momentum

The meeting also highlighted growing coordination between government agencies and industry stakeholders on energy efficiency policy, particularly in relation to the proposed 2025–2028 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP).

PE2 leadership reported ongoing engagement with the Department of Energy (DOE), Board of Investments (BOI), Climate Change Commission, and international partners including GIZ Philippines, the US Commercial Service, and several embassies.

The general membership meeting also saw the election of a new Board of Trustees for the alliance, with members set to serve through mid-2028. PE2 reported 96.9% membership participation in the vote, underscoring strong sector engagement.

PE2 President Alexander Ablaza also presented recommendations to BOI and PEZA on how energy efficiency projects should be structured under the upcoming SIPP cycle.

With PEZA signaling support for upgrading energy efficiency incentives under the BOI-led SIPP framework, will stronger fiscal treatment be enough to drive wider uptake of efficiency investments across Philippine economic zones—or are additional policy tools still needed to unlock scale?

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