Iloilo is positioning itself as a key player in the Philippines’ clean energy transition with over 1,300 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind service contracts already awarded across the province, according to the Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas Field Office.

The figure was highlighted during the Iloilo leg of “The Road to Renewables: Conversations on Energy Transition” Media Kapihan held on August 21 at Richmonde Hotel, Iloilo City. The dialogue was organized by the Clean, Affordable, and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia initiative, in partnership with the DOE, the Iloilo Provincial Government, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), and GIZ Philippines.

Local officials, renewable energy (RE) developers, civil society groups, and the media joined the event to discuss RE development in the region, challenges in permitting, and the role of accurate and accessible narratives in shaping public understanding.

Rey Victor Garin, the province’s focal person for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Desk, shared Iloilo’s policies and ongoing initiatives. “We’ve passed key ordinances such as the Iloilo Provincial Ordinance on Renewable Energy (I-PORE), which allocates a portion of the provincial budget for RE projects. Alongside this is the development of the Provincial RE plan, the Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan, and established local energy offices to support project implementation,” Garin said.

The DOE Visayas Field Office confirmed that as of December 2024, more than 1,390 MW of service contracts had been awarded for offshore wind in Iloilo. These include 990 MW in East Panay and Sicogon, 100 MW in Concepcion, and 100 MW in the Iloilo Strait. An additional 350 MW in onshore and offshore wind projects are also in the pipeline.

Pope John Sotto, Senior Policy Officer of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), noted Iloilo’s potential contribution to the country’s energy security. He said the province’s offshore wind resources could supply up to 35% of the Philippines’ national electricity demand if fully realized. However, he and other speakers stressed the urgent need to streamline permitting and strengthen support from local governments.

The Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) platform was cited as a tool to ease permitting, but adoption in Iloilo remains low, with only Iloilo City currently enrolled.

The dialogue also emphasized the importance of a just and inclusive transition. ICSC Grid Modernization Advisor Gaspar Escobar Jr. cited Energy Regulations No. 1-94, explaining that “host communities can gain financial benefits from their electric sales to support other local development projects like electrification, livelihood programs, and environmental initiatives.” He pointed to Iloilo’s initiative of expanding net-metered RE installations in hospitals, where energy savings are used to improve healthcare services. Communities are also expected to benefit through job creation and growth in allied industries such as steel and cement.

ICSC Director for Energy Policy Romil Hernandez emphasized the broader impact of the shift. “The shift towards renewable energy is not only technical; it is a societal transformation. And the media plays a strategic and pivotal role in changing narratives and building momentum towards a future that is clean, affordable, and secure, where energy is accessible for all,” he said.

Closing the event, Iloilo 4th District Board Member Rolando B. Distura called for stronger community engagement. “We hope that this event further deepened your knowledge to better explain the importance of the energy sector and share the provincial government’s effort in advancing renewable energy to our communities,” he said, pointing to Iloilo’s projects as examples of science-based innovation and effective leadership.

The Iloilo session was the second leg of the CASE Philippines roadshow, following its launch in Tacloban City in July. The initiative brings together stakeholders for dialogues and workshops to support the energy transition in Southeast Asia.

How can other provinces replicate Iloilo’s model to accelerate the Philippines’ renewable energy transition?

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