ERC, PERPI forge energy research partnership

The Energy Regulatory Commission and the Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute have formalized a research partnership aimed at strengthening evidence-based energy regulation and policy development in the Philippines.

The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, April 20, 2026, marking a new collaboration as the country faces mounting pressure to improve energy security, affordability, and long-term sustainability.

Under the agreement, the ERC and PERPI will work together on information support for technical and analytical research, capacity-building and knowledge-exchange programs for personnel, participation in forums and public consultations on energy regulation, and the development of discussion papers and research publications.

The partnership is designed to help anchor regulatory decisions in data, research, and local institutional expertise.

The ERC, led by Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan, said the collaboration will help strengthen the regulator’s response to emerging issues in the energy sector.

“By aligning research, policy, and regulation, we strengthen our collective ability to respond to emerging challenges, support the transition to sustainable energy systems, and ultimately deliver reliable and affordable electricity to our people,” Chairperson Juan said.

The Philippine energy sector has been under sustained scrutiny as policymakers and regulators seek to balance rising demand, investor confidence, grid reliability, consumer protection, and the transition to cleaner energy sources.

Against that backdrop, the ERC’s partnership with PERPI signals a broader push to ground policy and regulation in deeper technical analysis and research-backed recommendations.

PERPI, represented at the signing by University of the Philippines President Atty. Angelo “Jijil” A. Jimenez, said the partnership could help strengthen local linkages in energy research and policy development.

“We hope to be able to use this partnership to contribute to Philippine national goal, which is really dependent on our ability to solve our energy problem. And that energy problem calls for establishing a secure, safe, reliable, and affordable energy to fuel our drive towards becoming a fully developed country,” Pres. Jimenez said.

His remarks underscored the central role of energy in broader national development, particularly as the country works to support economic growth with dependable and reasonably priced power.

The ERC said the collaboration also reflects its continuing effort to improve regulatory transparency and efficiency through stronger local partnerships.

By combining regulatory experience with policy research, the two institutions aim to contribute to a more informed public discussion on energy issues and better support future regulatory decisions.

The memorandum of understanding took effect following its signing on April 20 and sets the framework for continued cooperation between the regulator and the research institute on energy-sector concerns.