The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Tuesday urged the government to adopt a bold national energy strategy anchored on three key pillars to ensure reliable, affordable, and sustainable power for the country.
Speaking at the 2026 Energy Summit in Makati City, PCCI president Perry Ferrer called for accelerated development of indigenous energy resources, modernization and hardening of energy infrastructure, and strategic international partnerships that safeguard national sovereignty.
“The world’s energy order is fracturing. Geopolitical rivalries, climate disruptions, supply chain shocks, and the accelerating energy transition have upended assumptions that guided energy strategies for decades,” Ferrer told over 200 business leaders, government officials, and industry stakeholders.
Ferrer warned that the Philippines’ heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels poses both economic and national security risks amid rising global instability.
“The answer cannot be timidity. It cannot be to simply endure—accept higher prices, unreliable supply, and hope the global order stabilizes in our favor. History teaches us that hope is not a strategy,” he said.
Highlighting the country’s untapped renewable energy potential, Ferrer pointed to geothermal resources, strong wind corridors, high solar irradiance, and offshore energy prospects.
Under the first pillar, Ferrer called for rapid development of local energy sources, describing energy independence as “the most pragmatic form of national defense.”
The second pillar focuses on building a smart, resilient grid capable of integrating renewables and withstanding climate-related disruptions, while the third advocates for strategic international partnerships “anchored in our national interest” and “never at the cost of our sovereignty.”
“The decisions we make in the next five years will echo across the next fifty,” Ferrer concluded.
