The Department of Energy (DOE) is still completing terms of reference for the new bidding to operate the Semirara coal resource in Antique, coordinating with the finance, economic planning, and environment departments to ensure proper review, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said late Tuesday.
Proposed revisions include requiring the winning bidder to set aside more output for domestic use and raising the government’s share in the asset. Garin confirmed the bidding will proceed this year, delayed at least two months from the original September target.
She noted no major supply risk should the process remain unfinished when current operator Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC)’s contract expires in July 2027, since most Semirara output is exported and local coal plants rely largely on imports. Recent workforce cuts by SMPC will not affect the tender, she added.
Earlier this week, SMPC filed for retrenchment affecting 462 workers, citing uncertainty over the auction and a cut in its 2026 production goal. The firm remains interested in bidding for the new contract. As of 2024, the Philippines imported most of its coal needs; SMPC accounts for over 90 percent of the country’s local output.
