THE Philippines has opened the three-day Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Conference in Manila, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Tuesday.
Organized alongside the US Department of State and the Japan government, the event aims to build the necessary safety, technical, and institutional frameworks to introduce Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) into the country’s energy mix. This, the agency said, aligns with President Marcos’s directive to lower electricity costs and enhance energy security.
SMRs offer the necessary flexible deployment options required to meet the dispersed energy demands of Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
This initiative supports the Philippine Nuclear Energy Program’s goal of reaching at least 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear capacity by 2032, and expanding to 4,800 MW by 2050. It also lays the groundwork for low-carbon, baseline technologies to complement the nation’s growing renewable energy capacity.
Meanwhile, the DOE and the Department of Tourism (DOT) are providing practical support to help tourism establishments reduce energy costs while maintaining service quality.
The DOE said a total of 46 tourism establishments in Metro Manila have undergone on-ground energy assessments to identify cost-saving and efficiency opportunities. This initiative has reached 147 representatives across tourism businesses, government agencies, and energy practitioners through technical assistance and financing access.
‘Energy is a significant operating cost for hotels, resorts, and other tourism establishments. Helping them use power more efficiently means helping them mange cost while maintaining the comfort and quality that guests expect. Our goal is to make energy efficiency practical and accessible by connecting establishments with the support they need to invest in improvements,’ Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said.
The initiative is anchored on the Memorandum of Agreement signed by the DOE and DOT on March 9, 2026 and supports the implementation of Republic Act No. 1285, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and Department Circular DC204-05-01, which guides DOE support for and monitoring of Designated Establishments toward more efficient and responsible energy use.