DOE pushes ‘aggressive’ fuel transition plan

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June 11, 2026 | 12:00am

Reducing reliance on imported oil

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) is pursuing an “aggressive” fuel transition plan to cut the country’s reliance on imported oil, with higher electric vehicle (EV) adoption and biodiesel blends among the key measures.

Amid the ongoing global oil crisis, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the transport sector is at the center of the DOE’s fuel transition strategy, given its heavy reliance on imported petroleum products.

“With one sector having one dominant fuel source, this concentration is exactly where the country’s vulnerability lies,” Garin said during the Management Association of the Philippines’ general membership meeting yesterday.

Among the proposed measures is a target for EVs to account for 60 percent of the country’s vehicle fleet by 2040 and 80 percent by 2050.

This marks a significant increase from the existing Philippine Energy Plan (PEP), which only targets EV penetration of 50 percent by 2040 and 60 percent by 2050.

The DOE is likewise considering raising the biodiesel blend to 50 percent (B50), far above the current PEP target of B5.

Beyond EVs and biofuels, Garin said the government is also seeking to accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels and explore the use of hydrogen technologies for heavy-duty transport.

Currently, the transport sector accounts for about 67 percent of the country’s total oil demand, according to DOE data.

Oil demand has also continued to grow, rising from just around 140,000 barrels in 2015 to 180,000 barrels last year, with diesel consistently making up the largest share.

For non-transport sectors, meanwhile, the DOE’s plan centers on fuel switching, energy efficiency improvements and the wider adoption of cleaner technologies in homes and industries.

“The diversification of our energy sources is one of the actions that will sustain and ensure energy security. We are keen on developing our indigenous oil, gas and coal resources,” Garin said.

The US-Israel war with Iran has exposed the Philippines’ vulnerability as an import-dependent economy, given that around 90 percent of its crude oil is sourced from the Middle East.

Shipments from the region pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that once carried about 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies but is now under restricted maritime traffic.