Senator Pia S. Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy, led a joint hearing today to continue the review of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), focusing on key measures that aim to strengthen regulation, enhance competition, and address persistent issues in the power sector. The committee discussed Senate Bills which seek to amend provisions of EPIRA on competition, ownership, and governance. “Two decades have passed since EPIRA was enacted, yet we continue to face high power costs, regulatory gaps, and limited competition. We must determine whether the safeguards originally built into the law still work for today’s market,” Cayetano said.
The Senator emphasized that the ongoing review supports the country’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 on affordable and clean energy, alongside related goals on poverty reduction, decent work, and innovation. She also urged agencies such as the DOE, NEA, and ERC to provide clear, coordinated responses to long-standing challenges in the power industry. “These are not new issues. Our task is to balance investment, innovation, and consumer protection – to build an energy market that is efficient, equitable, and truly sustainable,” she said.
