NEWS: Energy stakeholders agree Epira must reflect power sector’s situation | Sept. 12, 2026

0:00Energy stakeholders agree Apera must reflect power sector situation. Energy stakeholders called for changes in the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001. Apera, to better reflect the existing global and local energy landscape as the line between generation, transmission and distribution companies continue to blur. The stakeholders shared their views during the Manila Times Energy Forum on Friday. Manila Electric Company, Maralco, executive Vice President and COO Ronnie Aperocho said that from the perspective of the distribution sector, Apera is still relevant, but there are areas that need to be upgraded. There is need for some changes, as 25 years ago, the distribution utility was just a plain wires and metering business, Aperocho said. Today, the distribution grid has evolved into a complex and a very dynamic platform where distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar, batteries, electric vehicles, smart devices and other energy innovations have converged, he said. Prime Electric Holdings Incorporated Corporate COO Richard Nethercott said that in the past,

1:00the law was consistent, predictable and was applied equally to all the players in the electricity industry. He said flexibility is needed to address changing circumstances in the industry and to spur more energy investments. Apera must further empower, enable and strengthen the Energy Regulatory Commission and address the current limitations of generation companies wanting to build more power plants, Nethercott said. Alterner G Holdings Corporation President Jerry Magbanywa agreed on the need for flexibility as the energy landscape continues to change and the country moves toward renewables. Are our policies moving quickly enough? Are our regulatory processes enabling investment needs? Are we building the right infrastructure and systems required for a modern energy society? Action is needed in order to ensure that the transition remains affordable and inclusive, Magbanywa said. Philippine Electricity Market Corporation President Elvin Hayes' idea said some changes are definitely needed because the electricity market has dramatically changed in 25 years, and roles need to be more defined. We must also consider how we can further strengthen the governance framework of the electricity market, to create stability,

2:04transparency and confidence for investors, consumers and industry participants, Nitteras said. Janine DePycolingen, Philippine rural electric cooperatives association executive director and general manager, said the appear must be improved to bring about better coordination between the government and electric cooperatives. Overall, we hope that the appear reform will give greater accountability, faster, more predictable regulation and better access to financing, stronger consumer participation, and close coordination among government and state, DePycolingen said. Energy regulatory commission chairman and CEO Sa'danino Wann and other stakeholders also agreed that because of the sudden energy developments locally and around the world, changes are due, and that all stakeholders should work together toward those changes. This is something that we should all work together as a whole in order to identify what changes are necessary in order for us to have a clearer roadmap, Wann said in an interview during the event. The retail electricity industry cannot solve lower electricity costs and figure out the changes to appear alone. The goal of a purer is to lower electricity costs and provide reliable supply for everyone, and this sector needs

3:08to be defined for the role it will play in the future, Mahbuhi Energy Corporation President and CEO Jacqueline Castro said. A purer has been reviewed, studied and debated across various Congress and for presidential administrations. To fulfill its promise, we need to have a holistic approach from consumers to energy leaders, regulators and our policy leaders, partners for affordable and reliable energy chief advocate officer Nick Sotar Jr said.