On 26 May at ADB headquarters, key Philippine energy institutions gathered for the EPIRA Reforms Stakeholder Forum to discuss the Asian Development Bank (ADB) study, “EPIRA Assessment: Jurisdictional Review.” The study examines the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) as both a competition framework and a market-governance mechanism.

Participants offered constructive feedback that enriched the study’s analysis. They highlighted the delicate balance between regulatory oversight and competition enforcement, and the need for continued coordination so that market interventions remain aligned and mutually reinforcing.
Several priority areas emerged for further feedback and deeper analysis:

• Risks of vertical integration
• Implications of the Green Energy Auction Program
• Over-contracting
• The FIT-ALL pass-through mechanism
• Clearer consumer welfare benchmarks

Attendees included representatives from the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, National Transmission Corporation, Philippine Competition Commission, Philippine Electricity Market Corporation, and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation. Their substantive contributions reflect a shared commitment to reforms that strengthen competition and improve the performance of the energy sector.