The Philippine energy sector, through the Energy Task Force Election (ETFE), said Monday it is fully prepared to ensure a stable power supply and adequate fuel availability for the 2025 national and local elections, with a week remaining before the vote.
The ETFE is committed to supporting the safe, orderly, and uninterrupted conduct of the elections by safeguarding energy services during voting, transmission and canvassing, officials said.
“We have taken all necessary steps to support the smooth and credible conduct of the 2025 elections,” Departmen of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, chair of the Task Force on Energy Resiliency (TFER), told a press conference.
“The Department of Energy (DOE), through the ETFE, stands ready to respond and coordinate with our partners to maintain uninterrupted energy access across the country,” he said.
ETFE member agencies cited their readiness to safeguard the entire energy supply chain. Since the first quarter, the task force has held regular coordination meetings with key industry players, including the Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, National Power Corp., National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Independent Energy Market Operator of the Philippines, National Electrification Administration, National Transmission Corporation, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, generation companies (GenCos), distribution utilities (DUs), electric cooperatives (ECs), the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), and downstream oil industry stakeholders.
The ETFE said it assessed system readiness and implemented contingency measures to address potential challenges within the energy supply chain.
Public and private energy providers conducted inspections and maintenance of critical infrastructure, including pre-election checks of polling and canvassing centers, particularly in areas identified by the Commission on Elections.
It said that in off-grid and remote areas, distribution utilities under the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) carried out line maintenance. The NGCP led inspections and right-of-way (ROW) clearing along high-voltage transmission corridors to prevent outages.
The task force said it also assessed the readiness of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems in Comelec facilities. ETFE representatives are on standby for rapid deployment during emergencies, supported by contingency plans.
“We assure the public that the energy sector is fully prepared to ensure an unimpeded power supply before, during, and after the elections,” Fuentebella said.
“Contingency plans are in place, and we are in constant coordination with security agencies to help ensure a smooth and secure election process,” he said.