Philippines issues Department Circular establishing Minimum Energy Performance for Products 
On June 15, 2020, Department Circular No. DC 2020-06-0016: Prescribing the Minimum Energy Performance for Products (MEPP) Covered by the Philippine Energy Labeling Program (PELP) for Compliance of Importers, Manufacturers, Distributors, Dealers and Retailers of Energy-Consuming Products (ECP) (hereinafter referred to as the Circular) was issued in the Philippines (the promulgation date is June 26, 2020). This circular requires manufacturers and importers of covered ECPs to comply with the Minimum Energy Performance of Products (MEPP). This circular shall take effect 15 days following its publication.
The original text of this Circular can be downloaded from the following URL.
https://www.doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/issuances/dc2020-06-0016_0.PDF
Covered products
The covered products are specified in Section 4 of the guidelines as follows.
- Room air conditioners
- Refrigeration units
- Lighting products
However, additional ECPs shall be included in accordance with the recommendations of the Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB), Department of Energy as the competent authority. Such recommendation shall be made after public consultation and coordination with Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Transportation for fuel economy performance labeling requirements for transport.
MEPP
The MEPP that shall be adhered to are specifically prescribed in Annex A of the Circular. The following are some examples (none of them have been changed from the draft). The MEPP will be reviewed every three years and upgraded to more energy efficient values.
Window-type and split-type room air conditioners
| Energy consumption | Below 3.33kW | 3.33 kW-9.99 kW |
| Minimum Cooling Seasonal Performance Factor (CSPF) | 3.08 | 2.81 |
LED
| LED Type | Non-directional | Linear |
| Minimum luminous efficacy lm/W | 80 | 90 |
Refrigerator
| Type | Single door | Two-door manual defrost | Frost-free |
| Minimum EEF L/kWh(24h) | 200 | 230 | 180 |
For products that are not compliant with the MEPP, the information including the model, brand name, and importer’s name of the products will be published on the website of the Department of Energy, and also published in newspapers every six months.
Penalties
Annex B of this circular sets out the offences and penalties for them as follows.
|
Violation |
Fines (in Philippine Peso) | ||
| 10,000 – 200,000 | 200,000 – 500,000 |
500,000 – 1,000,000 |
|
| Selling, leasing, or importing ECPs that are not compliant with the MEPP |
－ |
First offence |
Second offence |
| Failing to provide accurate information, or provision of false or misleading information |
First offence |
Second offence |
Third offence |
| Refusal to cooperate with the verification test (sampling of products) |
First offence |
Second offence |
Third offence |
