Former Secretary of the Interior and Local Government and now senatorial candidate Atty. Benhur Abalos Jr. stressed the need for lower and more affordable electricity and fuel prices to ease the burden on Filipinos and strengthen the country’s economy.
In a senatorial interview on DZBB, Abalos pointed out that addressing high electricity rates requires a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach. Among his proposed solutions are supporting small regional electric cooperatives and aggressively promoting the use of renewable energy to ensure a more cost-effective and reliable power supply.
“For the country to progress, electricity must be affordable. If power rates are high, how can we develop industries like manufacturing?” Abalos emphasized.
However, he highlighted that one of the major obstacles to national development is the lack of electricity supply in some areas, especially in off-grid locations that are not connected to the main power distribution lines.
“Many areas in the Philippines still do not have sufficient electricity supply. Under the EPIRA Law, rural electric cooperatives are encouraged, so they should be given more incentives,” Abalos added.
Abalos stated that boosting renewable energy is a key solution to the country’s long-standing power supply issues.
“Utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar from the sun, geothermal from volcanoes, hydropower from water, tidal and wave energy from the sea, wind energy, and biomass from organic materials—which are abundant in the Philippines—is a significant opportunity that must be prioritized,” Abalos explained.
He further emphasized that the Philippines still lags behind other countries in renewable energy consumption.
“Currently, our renewable energy consumption remains low compared to other countries, such as the Nordic nations, where 50% of their power comes from solar, wind, and geothermal sources,” he added.
According to London-based global energy think tank Ember, only 22% of the Philippines’ electricity in 2023 came from renewable sources, which is below the global average.
Based on data from the Department of Energy (DOE), coal-fired power plants remain the primary source of electricity in the country, accounting for 43.9% of the total energy mix last year, despite the increasing contributions from renewable sources.
Another major factor contributing to high electricity prices is the slow expansion of transmission lines, particularly in the provinces, Abalos noted.
He highlighted his experience in resolving issues with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), where securing permits from local government units took almost five years.
To speed up the process, he created a task force that successfully accelerated the connection of Mindanao and Cebu to the national grid.
“In just six months, we completed 24 transmission lines and provided electricity to previously unserved areas in parts of Mindanao and Cebu. With enough political will, this issue can be resolved,” said Abalos, who served as mayor of Mandaluyong for 15 years.
Abalos emphasized that affordable and reliable electricity supply is a critical factor in national economic development. He hopes that through strengthening renewable energy, supporting electric cooperatives, and accelerating transmission line connectivity, the country can achieve a more accessible and efficient power supply for all Filipinos.
