The Iloilo Provincial Government has become the first local government unit (LGU) in the Philippines to pass an ordinance on renewable energy (RE).

Renewable Energy Ordinance of 2022 (I-PORE 2022) mandates the establishment of infrastructure and mechanisms on renewable energy, encourage barangays, municipalities, and cities to identify and allocate possible sites for RE investments, and provide incentives according to the Provincial Investment Code.

The measure is anchored on Republic Act No. 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, and the United Nations Sustainable Goals that ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.

“It’s good that we have an ordinance because right now, we have to set a budget for that. It is already in our Annual Investment Plan 2023,” said Governor Arthur Defensor Jr.

The province will allocate a regular annual appropriation in amount equivalent to at least 50 percent of 1 percent of the annual budget or about P21 million based on 2022 budget.

With the passage of the ordinance, Defensor is hoping to achieve more renewable energy projects in the province.

In 2019, the provincial government, through Defensor, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Energy (DOE), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to integrate renewable policies through the Development for Renewable Energy Applications Market Mainstreaming and Sustainability Project or DREAMS.

“We truly value the DREAMS Project because aside from savings on power consumption, the use of Renewable Energy contributes to climate change mitigation efforts,” said Defensor.

According to the governor, the province will pursue viable project such installation of micro hydro-electric equipment or turbine especially in mountainous areas.

“That is what we want to pursue because that is very viable for us,” he said.

The governor himself chairs the executive committee that will oversee the implementation of the ordinance.

The new measure is expected to help Iloilo increase renewable energy use by institutionalizing the development of local climate change adaptation capabilities, and encouraging the development and utilization of RE sources as tools to prevent harmful emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

It complements the Iloilo-Provincial Renewable Energy Plan (I-PREP), which laid down the overall renewable energy programs and activities aligned with the province’s vision of a “Livable, Resilient, Progressive, and Globally Competitive Iloilo.”IMT