ILOILO – This province is moving to position itself as a prime hub for renewable energy by cutting red tape in local permitting.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is drafting an ordinance that would harmonize and simplify requirements across all local government units (LGUs), a step seen as crucial in attracting energy investors to the province.
The proposed Iloilo Simplified Implementation of Permits and Local Clearances for Local Energy Projects (I-SIMPLE) ordinance will standardize the process province-wide to eliminate inconsistencies that often stall development.
“It is anchored on the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) Act, where there is a timeline. We also advocate for each local government to have a renewable energy local economic investment zone as part of their comprehensive land use plan,” said SP member Rolly Distura during the recent “Road to Renewables: Conversations to Energy Transitions” session organized by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Clean, Affordable, and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia project.
DOE Energy Resource Development and Utilization Division chief Lourdes Arciaga noted that as of December 2024, service contracts totaling 2,122 megawatts of indicative capacity had already been awarded for offshore and onshore projects nationwide. However, she stressed that LGU endorsements remain a major bottleneck in moving these projects forward.
Without the delays, Arciaga said, wind turbines could already be visible in Iloilo’s highlands and coastal areas within the next decade.
“We hope that the simplified proposal of the provincial government would attract more investors,” Arciaga added.
Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) senior policy officer Pope John Sotto, citing a World Bank report, underscored Iloilo’s strategic advantage as one of six potential development zones for the country’s estimated 170 gigawatts of offshore wind power.
Under the Philippine Energy Plan 2023–2050, the government targets renewable energy to comprise 35 percent of the national power mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050. Iloilo’s effort to streamline processes could make it a frontrunner in achieving this national shift./PN
