May, 06 2024

The City Government of Butuan City, Philippines has taken a major step towards a low-carbon future through the approval of the Butuan City Energy Development Plan (BEDP) 2023-2050. This plan, a testament to the power of collaboration, was crafted through a partnership between WWF-Philippines and the City Government of Butuan City, along with various energy stakeholders, including government agencies, academe, business chamber, and the Department of Energy (DOE). 

The BEDP is a product of WWF-Philippines' Financing and Integrating Renewable Energy in Butuan City (FinRE-BXU) project, which is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) that the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) supports based on a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.

“We are elated that this project has achieved this major milestone for Filipinos in Mindanao. This is a legacy that the German government has gifted this developing city in its quest for a low-carbon pathway. The people of Butuan and Mindanaoans in general will always be grateful when this pioneering work will eventually be replicated in other cities or provinces, benefitting more communities and contributing to a global low-carbon future,” FinRE-BXU Project Manager Cheerylyn Agot said.

“This BEDP shows that Mindanao is ready to participate in the national, and even the global, energy transition,” Agot said.

A technical consultant from the University of the Philippines’ Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UP-EEEIRDFI), Professor Ivan Benedict Nilo C. Cruz, presented the BEDP to the Local Development Council (LDC) as part of a transparent and participatory process. The LDC, composed of local government officials and representatives from various sectors, thoroughly reviewed the plan and provided their inputs before it was approved last December 2023. 

Prior to the full LDC’s approval, WWF-Philippines worked with the Butuan City Government to convene the City's Advisory Power Development Council in November 2023 to finally approve and endorse the BEDP. This convening was a crucial step in ensuring the project's sustainability. It was presided over by the Mayor and attended by the Vice Mayor, three (3) city councilors, and other local stakeholders. A representative from GIZ-Philippines was also present to witness this democratic process and meet the local energy stakeholders.

“What the City Government of Butuan do have control is to reduce its own energy demand which would eventually reduce the demand for coal power supply projects fed by the national grid. Indirectly, we can control the fossil fuel phase out”, Prof. Wali del Mundo, lead consultant from UP-EEEIRDFI, said during the presentation of the BEDP to the mayor.

A multi-stakeholder technical working group, composed of representatives from the academe, business chamber, and government agencies, played a key role in preparing the city government to conduct data analyses and gather information crucial to crafting the BEDP. Under the extensive mentorship of the professors from UP-EEEIRDFI, the group conducted research, analyzed energy data, and developed recommendations to outline and achieve the city's energy goals.

Recently, WWF-Philippines made a courtesy visit to the office of Butuan City Mayor Ronnievic Lagnada, where the project team introduced consultants from Preferred Energy, Inc. (PEI) to signal the commencement of activities to conduct the pre-feasibility studies of renewable energy pilot projects taken from the newly-approved BEDP 2023-2050.

For its part, the City Government of Butuan presented the city’s envisioned socio-economic development, which requires energy, in their path towards becoming a smart eco-city as a regional hub of Caraga.


Members of the Butuan City Advisory Power Development Council during a meeting last November 21, 2023.


The technical team from Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative (ANECO) and business sector representatives, Butuan City Chamber of Commerce share their thoughts and perspectives during the November 21, 2023 meeting.


Vice Mayor Fortun thanking the UP professors for leading the team in producing Butuan City Energy Development Plan 2023-2050.


Members of the Local Development Council during the full council meeting on December 20, 2023.