Energy Crisis Threatens SDG Gains: PCW Urges Action on Women’s “Time and Energy Poverty”

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) has issued a renewed call for government action to address the disproportionate impact of the ongoing energy crisis on women, warning that rising energy costs and unreliable access are deepening gender inequalities and undermining progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In a statement released in May 2024, the PCW emphasized that women, particularly in low-income and rural households, face a dual burden of “time and energy poverty” — spending excessive hours on unpaid care function while lacking reliable, affordable energy to ease their labor.

The commission urged all government agencies to integrate gender-responsive measures into energy policies and emergency response plans, cautioning against sidelining programs designed to support women during crises. PCW Chairperson Kristine Rosary Y. Zuniga stressed that energy insecurity is not just an economic or environmental issue — it is a gender justice issue.

Understanding Time and Energy Poverty

Time poverty refers to the lack of sufficient time for rest or leisure due to excessive burdens of unpaid work, particularly caregiving and household chores. Energy poverty, meanwhile, describes households’ inability to access adequate, affordable, reliable, safe, and environmentally sound energy services to meet basic needs.

When combined, these forces create a vicious cycle: women spend hours each day collecting firewood, boiling water, cooking over inefficient stoves, and performing manual labor — tasks that could be significantly reduced with access to clean cooking technologies, electricity, or time-saving appliances. According to the World Health Organization, over 2.4 billion people globally still rely on polluting fuels for cooking, a burden that falls disproportionately on women and girls.

In the Philippines, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported in 2023 that nearly 16% of households experienced energy poverty, with higher rates in rural areas and among female-headed households. The PCW noted that rising electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices — driven by global supply chain disruptions and currency fluctuations — have worsened the situation since 2022.

Impact on SDG Progress

The PCW warned that the energy crisis threatens to reverse hard-won gains in several SDGs, particularly:

• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Increased time poverty limits women’s opportunities for education, paid work, and political participation.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Reliance on dirty fuels undermines efforts to expand clean energy access.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Indoor air pollution from solid fuels contributes to respiratory diseases, especially among women and children.
• SDG 1 (No Poverty): High energy costs consume a larger share of poor households’ incomes, increasing vulnerability.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines has echoed these concerns, noting in a 2023 report that gender-blind energy policies risk exacerbating inequality and slowing national development.

PCW’s Recommendations for Government Action

The commission outlined several urgent steps for national and local governments:

• Integrate gender analysis into energy planning: Ensure that energy policies, subsidies, and infrastructure projects assess impacts on women and girls.
• Expand access to clean cooking solutions: Scale up programs that provide liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electric stoves, or solar-powered alternatives to biomass-dependent households.
• Target social protection measures: Design electricity and fuel subsidies to reach low-income, female-headed households without creating market distortions.
• Invest in time-saving infrastructure: Improve access to water systems, childcare facilities, and public transportation to reduce unpaid labor burdens.
• Collect and use gender-disaggregated data: Monitor energy access and usage by sex, age, and location to inform responsive policymaking.

The PCW also called on Congress to expedite the passage of the National Sustainable Energy Plan and to ensure that the Magnacarta of Women is fully implemented in energy-related programs.

Voices from the Ground

In a series of community consultations conducted in early 2024, the PCW heard from women in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Mindanao who described waking before dawn to gather firewood, walking kilometers to recharge phones at barangay halls, and choosing between buying medicine or paying for electricity.

One participant from Albay shared: “I spend almost four hours a day just cooking and cleaning because we don’t have a gas stove. If I had electricity, I could use a rice cooker and finish faster. Then I could rest, or even take a short course to earn more.”

These testimonies underscore the PCW’s argument that energy access is not merely about lighting homes — it is about reclaiming time, dignity, and opportunity.

Looking Ahead

As the Philippines navigates the complexities of energy transition and climate resilience, the PCW insists that gender equity must be central to the conversation. The commission pledged to continue monitoring government programs, advocating for inclusive policies, and amplifying the voices of women most affected by energy poverty.

With the 2030 deadline for the SDGs approaching, experts agree that addressing time and energy poverty is not just a matter of fairness — it is essential for achieving sustainable, inclusive development.

Key Takeaways

• Women in the Philippines face a disproportionate burden from the energy crisis due to their roles in unpaid care work and limited access to clean energy.
• The concept of “time and energy poverty” captures how energy insecurity increases women’s labor burden and reduces opportunities for rest, education, and income generation.
• Rising fuel costs and unreliable electricity access threaten progress on multiple SDGs, especially gender equality, health, and poverty reduction.
• The PCW urges government agencies to integrate gender-responsive measures into energy policies, expand clean cooking access, target social protections, and invest in time-saving infrastructure.
• Gender-disaggregated data and community voices are essential for designing effective, equitable solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is time and energy poverty?

Time poverty refers to the lack of free time due to excessive unpaid work, while energy poverty means lacking access to adequate, affordable, and reliable energy services. Together, they describe a situation where women spend excessive labor on basic survival tasks because they lack modern energy tools.

How does the energy crisis affect women more than men?

Women typically bear the primary responsibility for household energy-dependent tasks like cooking, cleaning, water fetching, and caregiving. When energy is scarce or expensive, their workload increases, and they have less time for education, income-generating activities, or rest.

What is the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)?

The PCW is the primary government agency responsible for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Philippines. It advises the President and Congress on policies affecting women and monitors compliance with international and national gender commitments.

What solutions does the PCW recommend?

The PCW recommends integrating gender analysis into energy planning, expanding access to clean cooking fuels, targeting subsidies to poor female-headed households, investing in water and childcare infrastructure, and collecting gender-disaggregated data on energy use.

Is the energy crisis in the Philippines getting worse?

While the country has made progress in electrification, recent global price shocks, currency volatility, and supply chain issues have increased the cost of electricity and LPG, pushing more households — especially in rural areas — into energy poverty.