27 July 2026, Quezon City, Philippines—Greenpeace said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr’s energy agenda must go beyond lowering electricity prices and reforming EPIRA to deliver energy security and independence through renewable energy. Reacting to the President’s State of the Nation Address today, Greenpeace Campaigner Jefferson Chua said:
“Filipinos deserve lower electricity bills, and the President is right to recognize that. We welcome efforts to expand renewables because they put clean energy directly into the hands of Filipino communities. But these gains will be undermined if the government continues to pursue nuclear power, fossil gas, and waste-to-energy—costly and hazardous false solutions that deepen Filipinos’ exposure to volatile global markets, health hazards, and environmental degradation. These false solutions, like fossil gas and burning waste, are just delaying our transition to renewable energy and placing millions of Filipinos firmly in the hands of foreign and corporate interests.
“Reviewing EPIRA is a good start, but it is not enough. Energy reform must go beyond this by accelerating a just transition to renewable energy, modernizing the grid, and removing barriers. The Philippines is already rich in the resources that can power our future. Investing in local solar, wind, and modern renewable infrastructure shields consumers from unpredictable global fuel prices, generates sustainable green jobs, and builds a truly resilient economy from the ground up.”
President Marcos also presented Pax Silica as a pathway to making the Philippines a hub for AI-driven industries and advanced manufacturing. Greenpeace warned that this vision raises questions about how the country’s growing energy demand will be met, and whether Filipinos will ultimately end up bearing the burden of higher electricity prices.
“It’s the same old energy injustice under a high-tech banner. If Pax Silica becomes another justification for depending on false solutions, it will lock Filipinos into the same fossil fuel dependence and environmental harm that the President claims to be fighting. Filipinos should not be made to subsidize the energy demands of a foreign-led AI supply chain while they continue to struggle with expensive and unreliable electricity.
“Furthermore, energy independence and genuine, inclusive progress must go hand-in-hand with climate accountability. Ordinary Filipinos, who contribute the least to global emissions, should not be left to shoulder the costs while major polluters continue to profit. By advancing the Climate Accountability (CLIMA) Bill, hastening the renewable energy transition, and rejecting false solutions, the government can deliver an economy that is competitive, climate-resilient , and powered by real energy security and independence, the benefits of which can be felt by all Filipinos.
“There is no nobler cause, indeed, in making the Philippines a country that Filipinos deserve. This means that in his last two years as President, he should prioritize a future for Filipinos free from foreign impositions and corporate greed.”
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For more information and interview requests, please contact:
Karl Orit
Communications Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +63 919 457 1064 (Viber & WhatsApp)
