The first Philippine Energy Efficiency law was dated back in the 1980s which is the Batas Pambansa 73 (BP 73) or “An act to further promote energy conservation and for other purposes.” BP 73 encourages and mandates government agencies to come up with policies intended for energy conservation.

BP 73 was only valid for five (5) years and was supposed to end in 1985, but with the approval of Batas Pambansa 872 on 10 June 1985, it extended the lifetime of BP 73 for another five (5) years (1986-1990). The BP 872 was an act amending sections ten (10) and fourteen (14) of BP 73. After 1990, there was no energy efficiency law following BP 872 though several attempts were made both in the Congress and the Senate, but unfortunately, it didn't become a law. has been trying to pass the law since the 8th Congress in 1988, however, it was only signed into law after four decades.

On April 12, 2019, RA 11285 was approved and signed into law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and became effective on May 22, 2019. The RA 11285 emerged more comprehensive than BP 73. RA 11285 institutionalized energy efficiency and conservation, enhanced the efficient use of energy, and granted incentives to energy efficiency and conservation projects.

The Act institutionalized energy efficiency and conservation as a national way of life geared towards the efficient and judicious utilization of energy by formulating, developing, and implementing energy efficiency and conservation plans and programs to enhance energy supply security of the country, cushion the impact of the high price of imported fuels to local markets and protect the environment in support to the economic and social development goals of the country. It also promotes and encourages the development and utilization of efficient renewable energy technologies and systems to ensure optimal use and sustainability of the country’s energy resources. Additionally, it reinforces related laws and other statutory provisions for a comprehensive approach to energy efficiency, conservation, sufficiency, and sustainability in the country. Moreover, the Act ensures a market-driven approach to energy efficiency, conservation, sufficiency, and sustainability in the country.

RA 11285 establishes a framework for introducing and institutionalizing fundamental policies on energy efficiency and conservation, including the promotion of efficient and judicious utilization of energy, increase in the utilization of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, and the delineation of responsibilities among various government agencies and private entities.

Generally, this is another effort to fulfill the mandate of the Department to ensure sustainable, stable, secure, sufficient, accessible and reasonably-priced energy. This will protect the environment in support of the economic and social development goals of the country.