RA 11285 — Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act

Republic Act No. 11285, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act of 2019, is the primary Philippine legislation governing mandatory and voluntary energy efficiency programs across the economy. Signed 12 April 2019, it establishes the framework for improving energy intensity through Designated Establishments (DEs), government building programs, appliance labeling, transport vehicle labeling, and practitioner certification [PEP 2023-2050 Vol. I, p.60, 2023].

The law supports achievement of SDG 7.3 (doubling the global rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030) and underpins the Philippines’ APAEC and APEC energy intensity commitments.

Ingest status: Complete — all chapters ingested (Ch. I–X, §1–40).

Chapter I — General Provisions (§1–4)

Section 2 — Declaration of Policy

[RA 11285, Section 2, 2019]

Section 4 — Key Definitions

[RA 11285, Section 4, 2019]

Chapter II — Roles and Responsibilities of Agencies (§5–8)

Section 5 — DOE as Lead Agency

DOE is the lead implementing agency. Key DOE functions beyond its existing mandate [RA 11285, Section 5, 2019]:

Section 6 — Roles of Other Government Agencies

Twenty agencies have specific mandated roles [RA 11285, Section 6, 2019]:

Section 7 — Role of LGUs

LGUs shall establish their respective EECOs headed by an EEC Officer, and with the assistance of DOE and DILG, shall develop and implement their LEECPs aligned with the NEECP. LGUs shall assist DOE in monitoring DE compliance for input to the NEECD [RA 11285, Section 7, 2019].

Chapter III — Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee (§9–11)

Section 9 — IAEECC Creation

The IAEECC is created to evaluate and approve government energy efficiency projects and provide strategic direction for the GEMP [RA 11285, Section 9, 2019].

Composition: Secretaries of DOE (Chairperson), DBM, DOF, DTI, DOTr, DOST, DILG, and DPWH, and the Director-General of NEDA. The Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB) of DOE serves as Secretariat.

Section 10 — IAEECC Powers and Functions

[RA 11285, Section 10, 2019]

Section 11 — Government Energy Efficiency Projects — Procurement Modalities

Government agencies and LGUs are authorized to enter into financial arrangements for EE projects using any of the following [RA 11285, Section 11, 2019]:

• RA 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act)
• RA 6957 as amended by RA 7718 (BOT Law — enables private-sector financing and ESCO-style contracts)
• RA 7160 (Local Government Code)
• 2013 NEDA Joint Venture Guidelines
• Applicable LGU charters
• Related laws, rules, and regulations

The explicit BOT authorization is the statutory gateway for Energy Performance Contract (EPC) arrangements in government facilities — enabling ESCOs to invest and recover through measured savings rather than upfront government procurement.

Chapter IV — Professional Certification and Accreditation (§12–13)

Section 12 — CECO and CEM Certification

Two distinct certification tracks are established [RA 11285, Section 12, 2019]:

CHED shall offer professional certificate programs including undergraduate, graduate, and professional certificate programs on energy management. TESDA shall conduct training, assessment, and certification for PQF Levels 1–5 and register training institutions.

Section 13 — ESCO Certification

DOE strengthens the existing ESCO certification system to develop the EE service sector. ESCOs must demonstrate technical and managerial competence in [RA 11285, Section 13, 2019]:

Chapter V — Energy Performance Standards and Labeling (§14–18)

Section 14 — Minimum Energy Performance (MEP)

MEP for the commercial, industrial, and transport sectors shall be developed by DOE in consultation with relevant stakeholders, guided by a NEDA-assisted cost-benefit analysis completed within 1 year of effectivity. MEP forms part of the NEECP [RA 11285, Section 14, 2019].

MEP for energy-consuming products is developed under the PESLP (Philippine Energy Standards and Labeling Program). All manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers must comply; no product may be sold, leased, or imported unless it meets MEP and carries an energy label.

Section 15 — Energy Labeling for Products and Equipment (PELP)

DOE prescribes mandatory energy labels for all energy-consuming products, devices, and equipment [RA 11285, Section 15, 2019]. Manufacturers, importers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers must display energy labels and ensure information integrity.

DOE develops and enforces a mandatory energy efficiency rating and labeling system for identified energy-consuming products — initially room air conditioners, refrigeration units, and television sets. Statutory minimum label content:

• Energy efficiency rating
• Monthly energy consumption (based on specified daily usage hours)
• Brand name and product model
• Year the energy rating was issued

Section 17 — Fuel Economy Performance for Transport Vehicles (VFELP)

Vehicle manufacturers, importers, and dealers shall comply with fuel economy performance labeling requirements set by DOE with the assistance of DENR and DOTr. Fuel efficiency testing guidelines shall be developed and conducted by DOE to validate manufacturer claims [RA 11285, Section 17, 2019].

Section 18 — Energy Performance for Buildings

LGUs implement building energy performance through building permit issuances [RA 11285, Section 18, 2019]:

• (a) New construction: Must comply with DOE Guidelines on Energy Conserving Design on Buildings (issued in consultation with DPWH); state buildings must also comply with GEMP and IAEECC guidelines
• (b) Retrofit: Must also comply with the same DOE/DPWH guidelines; state-owned and leased buildings must comply with GEMP and IAEECC guidelines

Chapter VI — Designated Establishments (§19–23)

Section 19 — DE Classification Thresholds

Thresholds shall be periodically reviewed and adjusted by DOE as deemed necessary [RA 11285, Sections 19, 22, 2019].

Section 20 — Obligations of Designated Establishments

All DEs (Type 1 and Type 2) shall [RA 11285, Section 20, 2019]:

Section 22 — Other Establishments (Below Type 1 Threshold)

Establishments with 100,000–499,999 kWh annual consumption shall submit an annual energy consumption report to DOE and integrate an ISO 50001-based energy management system. External energy audit and quality control assessment are voluntary for this tier [RA 11285, Section 22, 2019].

Section 23 — DOE Visitorial Powers

DOE may visit DEs during office hours in the presence of an authorized representative to inspect energy-consuming facilities, evaluate energy management systems, identify efficiency improvement areas, and verify monitoring records [RA 11285, Section 23, 2019].

Chapter VII — Demand Side Management (§24)

DOE, with the assistance of ERC and PEZA, shall pursue a DSM program for the electric power industry. Objectives include reduction of energy consumption, effective load management, migration of demand from peak to off-peak periods, and DU measures to encourage end-user load management and optimal use of fixed infrastructure [RA 11285, Section 24, 2019].

Chapter VIII — Incentives (§25–27)

Section 25 — Fiscal Incentives

Upon DOE certification, energy efficiency projects shall be included in the BOI annual Investment Priority Plan and entitled to EO 226 (Omnibus Investments Code) incentives for 10 years from the effectivity of this Act [RA 11285, Section 25, 2019]. Key features:

• Exempt from Article 32(1) of EO 226 (which limits incentive availment)
• BOI reviews continuation after the 10-year period
• After the period, BOI may extend inclusion in the IPP upon review

Section 26 — Non-Fiscal Incentives

Awards and recognition for EE/conservation best practices and successful EE projects and products; technical assistance from government agencies in developing and promoting EE technologies [RA 11285, Section 26, 2019].

Section 27 — Financial Assistance

GFIs and other financial institutions shall, consistent with their charters, provide concessional financial packages for RE and EE projects as recommended and endorsed by DOE [RA 11285, Section 27, 2019].

Chapter IX — Miscellaneous Provisions (§28–33)

Section 29 — EUMB Reorganization

The EUMB under DOE is reorganized into four statutory divisions [RA 11285, Section 29, 2019]:

Section 30 — Prohibited Acts

[RA 11285, Section 30, 2019]

Section 31 — Progressive Enforcement

Before imposing fines, DOE must follow a four-step process [RA 11285, Section 31, 2019]:

1. Explanation — require establishment to submit rebuttal reports and documents
2. Recommendation — if explanation insufficient, issue written recommendation
3. Public disclosure — if recommendation unheeded, disclose the establishment’s name publicly
4. Order — formal order; non-compliance is the valid ground for fines/penalties (§32)

Section 32 — Administrative Fines

DOE may impose fines from PhP 10,000 to PhP 1,000,000 per violation — without prejudice to penalties from other agencies or criminal liability [RA 11285, Section 32, 2019].

Section 33 — Criminal Liability

Responsible officers who willfully commit any prohibited act (§30) shall upon conviction suffer [RA 11285, Section 33, 2019]:

• Imprisonment of 1 to 5 years, or
• Fine of PhP 100,000 to PhP 100,000,000 or twice the costs avoided for noncompliance, whichever is higher, or both

Persons who aid or abet violations are liable as principals. In associations, partnerships, or corporations, the penalty attaches to the partner, president, COO, CEO, director, or officer responsible for the violation.

Chapter X — Final Provisions (§34–40)

Key Programs Created Under RA 11285

Governance Structure Created by RA 11285

• IAEECC — Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee; created to evaluate and approve government energy efficiency projects and to provide strategic direction for the GEMP [RA 11285, Section 9, 2019]. (The Act does not empower it to issue “binding resolutions on EEC implementation” generally — its §10 powers are assessment, review, technical assistance, recommendation, and annual reporting.)
• NEECCO — National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Coordinating Officer; a person appointed by the DILG (on the recommendation of the league of LGUs, from among the local EEC Officers) to integrate all the LEECPs at the national level [RA 11285, Section 4(x), 2019].
• NEECD — National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Database; centralized platform for national energy-consumption and EE/RE technology data, to be developed by DOE with PSA assistance [RA 11285, Section 5(c), 2019].
• NEECP — National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan; the comprehensive EEC framework DOE creates and updates, later carrying the EEC Roadmap 2023–2050 [RA 11285, Section 5(a), 2019].

Not created by RA 11285: the NEECO — National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Office — is a distinct, to-be-established permanent EEC coordinator introduced by the NEECP / EEC Roadmap 2023–2050 and the PEP 2023-2050, not by this Act; as of 2023 it had not yet been stood up [PEP 2023-2050 Vol. II, p.58, 2023]. Do not conflate the NEECO (office, from the Roadmap) with the NEECCO (coordinating officer, from RA 11285 §4(x)). See Government Energy Management Program (GEMP) .

Section 28 of RA 11285 also mandates a Waste Management Collection, Recycling, and Disposal Strategy (WMCRDS) for inefficient technologies, to be developed by DOE together with DENR and DILG [PEP 2023-2050 Vol. II, p.59, 2023].

Performance as of December 2023

• Energy intensity: 3.1 TOE/MPhP (−2.6% from 2021 baseline) [PEP 2023-2050 Vol. I, p.60, 2023]
• 4,730 DEs submitting reports; 465.78 GWh aggregate electricity savings; PhP 6.775B in DE investments
• 56 registered ESCOs; 610.61 GWh savings; PhP 6.38B in ESCO investments
• 901 certified EEC practitioners (488 CEMs, 184 CECOs, 229 CEAs)
• 136 PELP-registered companies; 6,926 product models; 5,890 with energy labels

[PEP 2023-2050 Vol. II, pp.50–52, 2023]

Policy Targets

Under the CES scenarios, the PEP 2023-2050 targets a 4–6% per year improvement in energy intensity — approximately double the 2.6% achieved in 2022 — requiring significant scale-up of RA 11285 programs. Total EEC investment 2023–2050: PhP 41.66 billion / 2,615 jobs [PEP 2023-2050 Vol. II, Table 33, 2023].

See Energy Intensity and Efficiency Indicators for scenario projections and Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) for the full NEECP framework.

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