ERC, PAGASA partner to use forecasts in WESM decisions

The Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, to translate climate and weather forecasts into sector-specific applications for the energy industry in a move both agencies framed as strengthening the link between science, regulation, and public service.

Under the MOU, the agencies agreed on key areas of cooperation, including a data exchange framework that will allow the ERC to use climate and weather forecast data when assessing whether to suspend or resume operations of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

The agreement, signed on Feb. 26, also formalizes the ERC’s plan to use live climate and weather forecasting data as the basis for decisions involving WESM operations by establishing a collaborative framework and a formal data exchange mechanism that enables the regulator to source data directly from PAGASA.

WESM is the country’s electricity trading platform where power prices are determined by supply and demand, and regulators can face pressure to act quickly during disruptions that affect market conditions and grid operations.

Extreme weather events, which frequently affect the Philippines, can disrupt grid stability and limit generation availability, making timely and evidence-based regulatory decisions critical to maintaining orderly market operations.

The ERC said its participation in the data-sharing initiative will also support the development of PAGASA’s Subseasonal-to-Seasonal Climate Prediction Application, or S2S, which is designed to help governing agencies prepare for extreme weather, strengthen risk management, and implement anticipatory measures more effectively.

The partnership also positions the ERC as a participating agency in the S2S Climate Prediction Application, aligning the energy regulator’s operational planning with longer-range climate outlooks that can inform preparedness and response.

PAGASA Administrator Dr. Nathaniel T. Servando said the agency remains committed to supporting the ERC as it adopts proactive and evidence-based regulation anchored on scientific data.

“We are confident that by working together, we can transform scientific knowledge into practical tools that enhance planning, improve resilience, and strengthen our institutions for the Filipino people,” Servando said.

ERC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan, in his closing message, underscored the value of sustained inter-agency collaboration in building a climate-resilient and consumer-centered energy sector.

“This whole-of-government approach reflects our shared responsibility to ensure that public institutions work together in addressing the challenges posed by climate variability and change,” Juan concluded.