May, 03 2024

“We know the important role that local governments play in improving the country’s energy situation. Which is why we wanted them to be equipped with practical insights from leaders in local energy planning,” Geraldine Anne Velasco, MoRE Project Manager, said.

“We brought together technical experts as well as pioneer local governments who have already made great strides in local energy planning so they can showcase best practices that will lead to a clean energy future,” Velasco said.

The technical experts who were speakers in the event were: 

• Director Michael O. Sinocruz, OIC-Director, Energy Policy and Planning Bureau, Department of Energy
• Director Patrick T. Aquino, Director, Energy Utilization Management Bureau, Department of Energy
• Engr. Rei Panaligan, President, Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies
• Professor Rowaldo D. del Mundo, Associate Professor, Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, University of the Philippines
• EnP Alvin F. Veron, Head of Planning Department and Energy Efficiency Conservation Officer, Muntinlupa City
• Engr. Jake Bonn C. Dumpasan, Acting Assistant City Planning and Development Coordinator, The City of Butuan

The local government representatives from Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao actively participated in the workshop and identified the challenges as well as the solutions to local energy planning in their respective jurisdictions.

Challenges common among the local governments include lack of a dedicated energy efficiency office and lack of technical expertise on energy planning.

“The knowledge and learnings gained in this workshop by the city and provincial representatives will hopefully be a small spark to light the fire of innovation and development of local energy plans that will usher their city or province towards a renewable energy future,” Velasco said.

The MoRE Project has previously conducted three formal roundtable discussions with representatives from the Philippine Government, civil society, and the private sector. The overall goal of the MoRE Project is for the Philippines to transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by accelerating applications of renewable, low-carbon, and no-carbon energy sources to fulfill the country’s energy demands while limiting global warming to 1.5°C.