DOST-ITDI invites PE2 for Tech Clinic on energy efficiency
MAKATI CITY, 11 November 2025 -The Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) was invited by the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) to support the agency as it held the 2025 Tech Clinic entitled “Energy Efficiency through Science and Technology” earlier today at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in Makati City.
The event brought together a diverse group of industry and energy efficiency sector market stakeholders, government partners, and the academe. The one-day workshop highlighted collaborative interest in the crucial role of energy efficiency and technology transfer. The DOST-ITDI holds these events to connect its technologies and research with potential adopters in the private sector.
After welcome remarks by DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum Jr, DOST-ITDI Director Dr. Annabelle V. Briones showcased the various energy initiatives of the institute.
PE2 president Alexander Ablaza explained the current state and future prospects of energy efficiency (EE) in the Philippines centered on the following key points: the strengthening EE policy and legal frameworks and the growth of the energy service company (ESCO) market. He called for a paradigm shift which positions energy efficiency as the “first fuel” – a resource that should be deployed and maximized before investing in new power generation or transmission capacity.
With the Tech Clinic’s focus on energy efficiency, three PE2 members from different sectors led the reverse-pitching with the objective to bridge the gap between DOST-ITDI’s research capabilities and the practical, high-impact needs of the Philippine energy sector. The PE2 Energy Efficiency Cluster speakers were:
- Raymond Marquez, Managing Director of EconoServ Solutions International, Inc. for the Energy Service Company (ESCO) Cluster
- William Alcantara, Managing Director of Vega Energy Services for the Energy Efficiency Services Cluster
- Kemuel Jarel Garcia, Director at Republic Cement and Building Materials Inc. for the Energy Efficiency End-User Cluster
Each of the three cluster representatives presented EE opportunities, as well as the policy, market and financing gaps facing the EE market from the sectoral viewpoint. They also identified technological gaps (e.g., R&D, testing, certification, pre-commercial technology deployment, etc.) because these are the gaps where DOST-ITDI would be most responsive in bridging.
Supported largely by a significant attendance of PE2 member companies, the participants broke out in three groups for deeper discussions for each cluster. When they convened for the closing plenary, each cluster reported on its respective gap analyses.
PE2 and DOST-ITDI exchanged letters of commitment, while various PE2 members and other participants expressed interest in DOST-ITDI’s available expertise and services.
The event was capped by a closing address by Dr. Marianito T. Margarito, OIC, Office of the Director for Research and Development, DOST-ITDI.
The DOST-ITDI Tech Clinic held on 11 November 2025 was intended to promote energy efficiency as a crucial driver for both economic development and environmental sustainability in the Philippines. It serves as a key platform for collaboration and technology transfer among different sectors, while emphasizing the shared objective of growing energy efficiency and sustainability.
