ERC pushes faster reserve procurement

Amid recent power fluctuations in Luzon and recurring yellow alerts in Visayas, energy regulators and private-sector players are pushing for faster deployment of flexible and dispatchable power capacity to strengthen grid reliability during the dry season.

- By GABRIELL CHRISTEL GALANG

During the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) Energy Forum 2026 on Tuesday, May 26, Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) officials as well as private-sector executives called for accelerated procurement of ancillary services, battery storage, and fast-ramping power capacity to address supply strains and rising electricity demand.

ERC Chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan said the country should adopt a more dynamic reserve framework aligned with weather conditions and demand fluctuations.

“If a heat advisory tells us the afternoon peak will be five percent higher than normal, we should have enough reserves to handle that,” he said in his speech.