Civil society groups and local energy advocates in Northern Mindanao are calling for an accelerated transition to renewable energy, emphasizing hydro and solar solutions to ease the region’s high power costs and boost investor confidence, the Philippine News Agency reports.

“There are low-hanging fruits in Mindanao’s energy transition,” said Ben Cyrus Ellorin, head of the Consumers for Renewable Energy Action in Mindanao (Cream), noting that the region’s clean energy legacy, once anchored on hydropower, was displaced by coal and diesel in the last decade.

Ellorin stressed that the current dependence on imported fossil fuels like coal has led to high electricity prices, burdening industries and businesses. “Energy costs account for 20 percent to 50 percent of their operating expenses,” he said.

A key proposal backed by local stakeholders is the rehabilitation and uprating of the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex (APHC), which could deliver electricity at under PHP2 per kilowatt-hour. Ellorin called this a cost-effective and viable strategy to support Mindanao’s energy shift.

David Tauli, director of the Institute of Power Sector Economics and a member of Konsumanteng Kagayanon, underscored the push toward “democratized” renewable energy through Electricity Decarbonization Programs (EDPs). These aim to reduce coal dependency by enabling households to shift to rooftop solar systems, with a target of at least 10 million homes participating by 2030.

In a recent policy brief, Konsumanteng Kagayanon proposed a 50–60% renewable energy mix for Mindanao by 2030, pushing for green energy to be as affordable and accessible as conventional sources.

The business sector also echoed the urgency for reform. “High electricity prices are driving away investors, depriving Mindanaoans of opportunities to earn decent jobs,” said Al Brito, president of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce. He supported immediate rehabilitation of the APHC as a key move to improve investment attractiveness.

The Cream initiative focuses on climate action awareness and empowering consumers to demand clean, reliable energy—specifically hydro and solar—as part of a sustainable development path for Mindanao.

What’s your view on the proposed hydropower rehabilitation and rooftop solar rollout? Join the conversation and share your thoughts on Mindanao’s renewable energy future.

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