Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin on Monday clarified that lawmakers cannot expect to find significant funds for realignment within the Department of Energy (DOE), as the agency’s budget is among the smallest in government.
“Wala ka talagang mapapala sa amin. Dalawang bilyon lang ang budget namin. Ngayon year, nag ₱3 billion pesos na siya. Wala ka talagang mapapala sa DOE. Policy making kasi kami, wala kaming district offices,” Garin said in an interview on DZRH’s Dos Por Dos.
She explained that unlike agencies with large infrastructure budgets, the DOE primarily functions as a policy-making body and does not implement district-based projects.
“Kung mga bilyon-bilyong mga proyekto, wala po kami niyan kasi ₱3 billion lang nga ang buong department,” she stressed.
Garin added that big-ticket energy projects, such as dam construction, are not funded through the national budget but by private investments.
“Wala pong makikita sa GAA dahil private investment iyan,” she said.
The DOE’s limited fiscal space, she said, makes it distinct from agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) where lawmakers typically propose insertions or reallocations.
Siquijor brownout
Garin revealed that Siquijor province has been experiencing daily 10-hour blackouts, with some areas seeing power interruptions twice a day. The DOE found that five out of nine generator sets in the province were broken.
“Ang pangangailangan ng Siquijor ay 9 megawatts. Dahil 9 megawatts nagbablackout palagi, ang ginawa namin pinalitan na lahat,17 megawatts na. So far, wala namang nare-report na interruption. Araw-araw po namin mino-monitor ‘yan,” she said.
When asked about power supply during summer, Garin assured that the country has sufficient electricity but highlighted that many power plants are old and prone to breakdowns. Up to 200 new power plants, including solar, wind, coal, and other sources are scheduled to come online by 2028.
“Ang role talaga ng DOE ay mag-impose ng disiplina. Kung talagang nag-commit ka, dapat mangyari ‘yan. Hindi ‘yung pagsinabi mong December 2025, dapat mangyari ng December 2025,” Garin said.
She shared that task forces are being deployed to ensure private investors complete their projects on time to avoid yellow or red alerts.
"Disiplina ang kailangan sa industriya hindi po flood control. Kailangan po may discipline na kailangan po, lahat ng gustong kumita sa public utility sa electricity ay kailangan po magdeliver ng commitment nila," she said.
Lower power rates before Marcos term ends
The DOE is working to ensure not only sufficient supply but also lower electricity costs before the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term.
“Ito tinatrabaho namin na before the end of June 2028 makita po ang pagbaba ng presyo at hindi lang pagbaba kundi sufficient na electricity natin. Inaayos namin kung saan dapat ang planta, ilan planta dapat kada isla,” Garin explained.
On nuclear power
Garin said the Philippines is preparing for nuclear energy by completing licensing, evaluation, and training so the country can accommodate investors.
“Mangyayari ‘yan kasi ito ang isa sa pinakamalinis at pinakamura na source of electricity natin, ang nuclear,” she said.
“Hindi lang po solar, hindi lang wind kundi hindi lang coal, at diesel. Dapat kasi lahat ng energy mayroon tayo. Ang hindi lang mangyayari siguro sa ngayong administrasyon pero tinatrabaho na namin po ang licensing nito… para mangyari na siya,” Garin added.
