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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has taken a significant step toward strengthening oversight of solar energy products in the Philippines, conducting a public consultation on May 26 for proposed rules that would require mandatory certification of solar energy systems and key components amid the country’s accelerating shift to renewable energy and growing safety concerns.
The proposed Department Administrative Order (DAO), to be issued by the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), seeks to impose stricter quality and safety requirements on major solar products, including solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, inverters, battery energy storage systems (BESS), rapid shutdown devices, battery charge controllers, and photovoltaic cables.
According to the DTI, the measure aims to protect Filipino consumers by ensuring that all solar energy components imported, manufactured, distributed, sold, or installed in the country meet established safety and quality standards.
The agency said the rapid expansion of solar installations — particularly rooftop solar systems — has heightened the need for stronger regulatory safeguards to protect consumers and preserve the reliability and stability of power distribution systems.
“The certification of solar panels also serves to protect consumers from fly-by-night solar power providers and installers whose primary motivation is profit at the expense of consumer welfare. This is where standards and technical regulation play a critical role,” said DTI-BPS Assistant Director Atty. Margarita F. Magsaysay.
During the consultation, DTI-BPS Electrical and Electronic Products Certification Division Chief Engr. Frankincense M. Macula clarified that the proposed rules are not intended to impose additional taxes or raise costs for solar energy systems. Instead, the regulation is designed to strengthen oversight of manufacturers, importers, and installers operating in the sector.
Under the draft DAO, all covered solar products — whether locally manufactured or imported — must comply with applicable Philippine National Standards (PNS) before they can be sold, distributed, installed, or used in the Philippine market.
The proposed framework offers two certification pathways: the Philippine Standard (PS) Licensing Scheme for manufacturers and the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Certification Scheme for importers.
The draft regulation also establishes a broader compliance and monitoring system that includes laboratory testing, factory audits, product sampling, and post-market surveillance.
In addition, manufacturers and importers will be required to implement product traceability measures, proper labeling, and mechanisms for handling consumer complaints and product recalls.
Following the public consultation, the DTI said stakeholders will be given 60 days to submit comments and recommendations before the regulation is finalized. Once approved, implementation will be rolled out in phases to provide affected stakeholders ample time to comply with the new technical requirements.
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