09 July 2025 – Makati Business Club, in partnership with the Netherlands Embassy in the Philippines, brought together key leaders from government and industry for a roundtable on how to move the Philippines’ offshore wind (OSW) plans forward. Held at the Colliers Philippines Conference room and moderated by Atty. Naj Estrella of PJS Law, the discussion is part of MBC’s effort to provide platforms for cross-sector dialogue on energy transition.

The roundtable built on a previous session held in June that focused on private sector perspectives, where developers and technical experts identified key hurdles in permitting, infrastructure, and seabed leasing. In this follow up discussion, government stakeholders – including representatives from the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) — shared ongoing efforts to respond to these issues, signalling a strong commitment to support the sector’s growth.

Key Takeaways

1. Port timelines are tight. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is working on three ports for offshore wind (Mercedes, Santa Clara, and Currimao), but participants stressed that these ports need to be fully ready — including clear lease terms and site preparation — if projects are to move forward on time..
2. Most ports are not yet equipped to meet offshore wind requirements. Current ports lack the load strength and space to support infrastructure for offshore wind demands. Stakeholders noted that many sites will require full-scale redevelopment or greenfield builds, stretching beyond the scope of PPA’s typical investment cycles.
3. Transmission remains a key challenge. NGCP has identified over 30 GW in potential offshore wind capacity, but some sites, such as Currimao in Ilocos Norte, lack a 500 kV connection. Acquiring right-of-way for a 300 km transmission line could take five to seven years. DOE is drafting policy to allow private-sector participation in grid development, which participants saw as key to accelerating readiness.
4. Permits at the local level are complicated and slows momentum. Developers shared that they sometimes need approval from 20 or more barangays. The DOE and DILG are working with local governments to simplify this, and upcoming studies aim to help communities understand the benefits of offshore wind..
5. Rules on seabed use are clearer, but legal certainty is still needed. A 2024 agreement between DOE and DENR removed the need for a separate foreshore lease, making it easier to access offshore areas. However, participants noted that this policy should be backed by a formal legal instrument to ensure clarity for lenders and developers — especially for securing financing and participating in future auctions. 
6. Marine planning is being institutionalized to avoid conflicts. The DENR is working to formalize Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) to guide where offshore wind projects can be developed, ensuring they don’t overlap with protected areas, fishing grounds, or mining zones. A technical working group is being formed to support this process, aligned with the framework set out in the proposed Blue Economy Act. 

While acknowledging the steady progress in permitting and policy development surrounding OSW, participants stressed the need for clear and realistic timelines from government to help them plan better and reduce risk. Despite the identified hurdles, the discussion continued to underscore the scale of opportunity. Currimao alone could support up to 2,000 MW of offshore wind, showing what’s possible if key barriers are addressed.

MBC will publish a policy brief to share key insights and recommendations from the roundtable. For updates, follow Makati Business Club on Facebook and LinkedIn. To stay updated, follow Makati Business Club on Facebook and LinkedIn.

We welcome continued engagement on our sustainability agenda. If you are interested in this initiative, please contact our Sustainability Lead, Eunice Tanilon, at eunice.tanilon@mbc.com.ph and our Sustainability Project Officer, Danii Nepomuceno, at danii.nepomuceno@mbc.com.ph