MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) has assured the public that the country’s power supply remains stable despite the onset of the dry season and the upcoming May 2025 midterm elections.

DOE Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan said on Wednesday that there is no anticipated power shortage, but the agency continues to conduct simulations to prepare for various scenarios.

“Sa ngayon po ay supisyente ang ating supply ng kuryente at hindi po natin inaasahan na magkakaroon po tayo ng kakulangan sa ating pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa kuryente,” Marasigan said.

He added that DOE is ensuring all necessary measures are in place to guarantee an uninterrupted power supply, particularly during the elections.

Plant shutdowns, yellow alerts

Marasigan also addressed concerns over the recent maintenance shutdown of energy facilities, particularly those relying on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

“Iyon pong ating temporary shutdown… ay kasama po sa paghahanda natin para ngayon pong tag-init at para na rin po sa election,” he said, noting that the shutdown allowed for the integration of new storage facilities that will help improve power generation.

He explained that supply from Linseed Power Corporation’s LNG facility has already increased from 1,300 megawatts to 1,350 megawatts, with further capacity expected to reach 2,500 megawatts by mid-May.

Despite these improvements, Marasigan did not rule out the possibility of yellow and red alerts, but assured the public that contingency measures, such as the activation of the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), are in place to prevent power interruptions.

“Kapag yellow alert po, hindi kailangan ay magkakaroon na tayo ng brownout,” he clarified.

Electric vehicle infrastructure expansion

DOE also said its goal of deploying over 7,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations nationwide by 2028 as part of its clean energy transition.

“Binabago po natin iyong rules and regulations, ginagawa po nating madali pati po iyong mga standards ay isinasangguni na po natin sa public consultation,” Marasigan said.

This initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision to have at least 50% of vehicles in the country powered by electricity by 2040.

In preparation for the May elections, DOE has activated the Energy Task Force on Election, which has coordinated with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to ensure a stable power supply in polling stations.

“In-activate na po natin iyong tinatawag nating Energy Task Force on Election… at nakapagbigay na rin po tayo ng abiso sa lahat ng stakeholders sa power industry,” Marasigan said.

Additionally, the DOE has ordered all power plants to suspend maintenance activities one week before and after the election to ensure maximum capacity.

Marasigan also encouraged the public to practice responsible energy consumption to help conserve power during the dry season.

“Hindi naman po kailangan na magtipid talaga ng kuryente, ang kailangan lang po natin ay iyong masinop na paggamit,” he advised.