Solar Industry Welcomes 3-Year Importer Accreditation Rule For Clean Energy Equipment
- May 9, 2026
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The Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (PSSEA) has welcomed a government decision extending importer accreditation validity from one year to three years, describing the move as a major step toward accelerating the deployment of solar and energy storage projects in the country.
The reform, implemented through Customs Administrative Order (CAO) No. 01-2026, amends earlier accreditation rules under CAO No. 07-2022 issued by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Industry stakeholders said the updated policy is expected to reduce administrative delays and improve the flow of imported clean energy technologies into the Philippines.
“By extending the accreditation validity to three years, the Bureau of Customs is effectively removing a recurring administrative bottleneck that has historically hampered the flow of clean energy technologies into the country, particularly solar and energy storage,” PSSEA Chairman Maria Theresa “Tetchi” Cruz-Capellan said.
Reduced Bureaucracy For Renewable Energy Projects
According to PSSEA, the revised accreditation period aligns better with the multi-year timelines typically required for renewable energy developments and new energy storage mandates.
The alliance said project developers and technology providers have long faced delays and additional costs due to the need to renew importer accreditation annually. The new three-year validity is expected to provide greater predictability for project planning, procurement, and logistics.
“This allows our members, including project developers and technology importers, to focus less on the annual paperwork and more on the large-scale deployment of energy solutions,” Capellan said.
The organization added that the policy supports the government’s broader push to improve the ease of doing business while strengthening the country’s renewable energy supply chain.
Industry players said smoother import procedures are especially critical as the Philippines ramps up solar and battery storage installations to help address rising electricity demand and supply security concerns.
Faster Entry of Solar And Storage Technologies
PSSEA noted that simplifying importation procedures could help lower operational costs for companies bringing clean energy equipment into the country.
The group said streamlined accreditation rules would also enhance trade facilitation and help ensure the timely delivery of components needed for ongoing and upcoming renewable energy projects.
“The amendments align importer accreditation with multi-year project cycles and new storage mandates, effectively lowering operational costs,” Capellan said.
The BOC’s updated rules are likewise expected to help accelerate the entry of solar panels, battery storage systems, and related technologies needed to expand the country’s local power supply.
Capellan described the reform as an important development for the energy sector and for investors pursuing renewable energy projects in the Philippines.
“It is a vital ‘ease of doing business’ victory that helps lower importation costs and fast-tracks the buildout of the nation’s local power supply,” she said.
The policy shift comes as the government continues to encourage investments in renewable energy and energy storage infrastructure as part of efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix and improve long-term energy security.
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