The Department of Energy (DOE) has begun the phased transfer of key power sector functions to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

DOE and the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) signed a Transition Agreement on June 3 that will gradually transfer responsibilities related to the supervision, regulation, and development of the electric power industry within BARMM.

The agreement was signed by Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin and MENRE Minister Akmad A. Brahim as part of ongoing efforts to implement provisions of the Bangsamoro Organic Law related to energy governance and development.

Under the agreement, the transition will be carried out in phases to ensure continuity of service, institutional readiness, and coordination between the national and regional governments.

“This transition is about bringing energy governance closer to the communities it serves,” Garin said.

“By strengthening the capacity of the Bangsamoro Government to lead its own power sector development, we can accelerate electrification, improve service delivery, and create greater opportunities for economic growth throughout the region,” she added.

As part of the transition, MENRE will take a larger role in preparing and implementing the Bangsamoro Power Development Plan, overseeing regional power sector initiatives, supporting rural and missionary electrification programs, coordinating transmission development, and representing BARMM in relevant national energy bodies.

To support these responsibilities, the DOE’s Electric Power Industry Management Bureau will provide technical assistance, training, and capacity-building programs covering energy planning, project evaluation, transmission development, rural electrification, and regulatory oversight.

The DOE said the framework is intended to ensure that BARMM’s energy priorities are reflected in regional planning while remaining aligned with national policies, reliability standards, and environmental regulations.

The agency added that stronger local leadership could help accelerate electrification projects, particularly in remote and underserved communities that continue to face challenges in accessing reliable electricity.

As of December 2025, around 1.1 million households in BARMM had access to electricity, translating to an electrification rate of 67.52%.

“Reliable electricity is more than a service, it is an enabler of opportunity,” Garin said. “When communities have access to stable and affordable power, children can study longer, businesses can grow, healthcare services can operate more effectively, and local economies can thrive.”

Alongside the Transition Agreement, the DOE and MENRE also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Energy Efficiency and Conservation.

The agreement will gradually expand MENRE’s role in implementing energy efficiency programs, including the Government Energy Management Program, compliance requirements for designated establishments, and the Philippine Energy Labeling Program, while the DOE continues to provide policy guidance and technical support during the transition period.

The latest agreement builds on an earlier transition agreement signed in November 2024 covering the implementation of the Renewable Energy Act, which aimed to expand BARMM’s participation in renewable energy development and investment promotion.

With roughly one-third of households in BARMM still lacking electricity access, can greater local control over energy planning help accelerate the region’s path toward universal electrification?

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