EPIRA has delivered profits for a few, not affordable power to Filipinos

July 3, 2026

EPIRA has failed to make electricity affordable, and instead created possibly the region’s most expensive power system, while enriching a few.

Watt a burden

April 26, 2026

What is the government doing? Despite President Marcos Jr’s Executive Order 110 declaring a “state of national energy emergency”, on March 24, it’s business as usual for oil, energy, and electricity firms. The government, meanwhile, just continues with the 12% value-added tax on electricity, adding to the burden of the majority who are already financially struggling, while power firms profit from the crisis.

EPIRA beyond reform

February 28, 2025

COMMENTARY

The lament borders on cliché – the Philippines has among the highest electricity costs in the region.

IBON Facts & Figures: “Alternative to Power Privatization” [Excerpt]

April 18, 2019

Amid power interruptions because of combined forced power outages due to maintainance and various power plants’ system problems, we share the introduction of the December 2014 IBON Facts & Figures issue titled “Alternative to Power Privatization”: “When the Philippine government privatized the electric power sector in 2001, it promised cheaper and sustainable supply of energy […]

Deregulating rates and privatizing power through EPIRA

February 12, 2019

A challenge to reverse power privatization

June 16, 2017

In 2001, the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) was enacted with the promise of delivering affordable and reliable electricity to the country. Sixteen years later, electricity remains expensive and unreliable, and electric power industry monopoly has intensified, further enriching big firms. The following points elaborate on why the Duterte administration should all the more […]

Meralco rates 3rd highest in Asia

June 8, 2017

A 2016 survey conducted by the International Energy Consultants showed that the Manila Electric Company or MERALCO has the third highest electricity rates in Asia after Japan and Hong Kong. The same study reported that Meralco consumers spend 4.5% of their disposable income on electricity which is higher than the 3.9% global average.

Filipinos lack access to water, electricity despite megadams

March 15, 2017

In commemoration of the International Day of Action for Rivers and Against Large Dams, Filipino groups opposed to large dams said that while megadams are supposed to supply cheap water and electricity to urban and rural communities nationwide, Philippine experience has proven otherwise. Indigenous peoples and support groups Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas […]

Bigger and more increases loom after ERC-approved Meralco hike, IBON warns

March 8, 2017

Research group IBON warned that consumers may face bigger and more rate increases in their electricity bills this summer. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)’s approval of a smaller than petitioned rate hike for the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is still warrantless and just a portion of generation costs that the power distributor and its suppliers […]