Local government leaders in Eastern Visayas have made a formal promise toward reducing power costs and stabilizing energy reliability through Memoranda of Understanding signed in Tacloban City on February 20, in partnership with the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC).

The participating local government units (LGUs) – Alangalang in Leyte; Paranas and Marabut in Samar; and Guiuan, Oras, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar – will all undertake energy planning processes aimed at turning local development priorities into clean energy transition plans.

Eastern Visayas has a history of struggling with unstable electricity. The region has experienced frequent service disruptions that affected schools, health facilities, and communications networks. Meanwhile, electricity rates still climb to as high as PHP 20.96 per kilowatt hour in 2022. All these factors exist, despite the area’s strong potential for renewable energy.

Under the agreements, the LGUs committed to align local initiatives with national energy policies, including the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, the DILG-DOE Joint Memorandum Circular 2020-01, and voluntary programs like Net Metering and the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP).

Mayor Lovell Ann Yu-Castro of Alangalang said the effort goes beyond simple planning documents.

“We are not merely drafting plans, we are laying the foundation for a resilient future… This is not only about energy, this is about economic opportunity and green jobs. It is about lowering power costs for families, and providing energy security for our schools, our health centers, and our public services,” Yu-Castro said.

Mayor Elvira Babalcon of Paranas emphasized urgency in local action.

“We affirm that local energy planning is not just an option but a responsibility that local leaders must work on, not in the future but now. We commit to integrating renewable energy into our local development plans, promoting solar and energy solutions, building local capacities, and encouraging community participation. The foundation of this work should be inclusivity and good governance,” she said.

ICSC said it will provide technical assistance to help the LGUs. These range from multi-stakeholder planning, drafting RE ordinances, and mobilizing investments. Their support will also cover potential initiatives such as rooftop solar programs, Community Renewable Energy (CORE) efforts, and public information campaigns.

ICSC Executive Director Angelo Kairos dela Cruz said collaboration across institutions is key to accelerating the shift.

“Every signature, decision, and step that we take will serve as a symbol of our vision and collective action toward achieving a better and more resilient future for Eastern Visayas,” dela Cruz concluded.

With local governments now positioning themselves at the forefront of the energy transition, can community-driven planning help ease high power costs and strengthen energy security in Eastern Visayas?

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Photo credit: Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities website