ILOILO – This province is positioning itself as a renewable energy leader in the country, with a slew of major projects and new ordinances set to accelerate Iloilo’s role in meeting the national target of boosting renewable energy’s share to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
Romil Hernandez, director of the Energy Policy Team at the Institute of Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), emphasized that the transition goes beyond technology.
“Our energy transition agenda is based on the belief that moving towards renewable energy is not just a technical or technological shift; it is a societal transformation. We want to change the narrative that we should no longer rely on fossil fuels or traditional power plants,” he said.
Fernandez clarified, “We are not advocating for the closure of these facilities (fossil fuel power generators); rather, we are emphasizing the need for an increase in renewable energy sources.”
“Why is this important? Because it will make our energy sector more affordable, reliable, and secure. We must ensure that access to electricity is not limited to urban areas; everyone, even those in the farthest reaches of our country, should have access to energy,” Fernandez explained.
Rey Victor Garin, OIC-head of Energy & EEC Conservation Desk for Iloilo, said the province has been consistently implementing renewable energy programs and earned the first-ever Sustainable Energy Award from the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau last year.
“As a province, we adopt a logistical approach, implementing plans, ordinances, and programs, along with the necessary physical infrastructure and manpower allocation for renewable energy projects,” he said.
Among Iloilo’s initiatives is the Iloilo Provincial Ordinance on Renewable Energy (IPOR), which earmarks one percent of the province’s total budget for renewable energy projects.
“Additionally, we have the Iloilo Provincial Renewable Energy Plan, assisted by the UNDP DREAMS project, as well as our Local Energy Efficiency Conservation Plan, mandated by the Department of Energy,” Garin added.
Fresh ordinances are also being introduced at the provincial board. Iloilo 4th District Board Member Rolando Distura has proposed the I-SHARE program, which sets aside five percent of the Special Education Fund for renewable energy projects in schools.
“Makabulig ini para mahagan hagan ang ila balaydan sa kuryente,” he explained.
Distura also filed a measure to simplify and standardize local permitting requirements for energy infrastructure projects.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has already identified several large-scale projects across Iloilo, ranging from solar and wind to biomass and hydro power, underscoring the province’s central role in the country’s renewable energy landscape. These include the 175.29 MW Barotac Viejo Solar Power Project, the 990 MW East Panay Offshore Wind Power Project, and the 23 MW biomass plant in Passi City, among others.
According to DOE official Lourdes Arciaga, these projects reflect Iloilo’s growing renewable portfolio and form part of a broader effort to expand sustainable energy nationwide.
Here’s the breakdown of renewable energy projects in Iloilo Province:
SOLAR POWER PROJECTS (as of December 2024)
* Gaisano Iloilo Solar Rooftop Project (Iloilo City, Iloilo) – Capacity : 0.92MW; Developer: EDC Siklab Power Corporation
* Tigbauan Solar Power Project (Tigbauan, Iloilo) – Capacity: 27.44MW; Developer: Solexar Energy International, Inc.
* Miag-ao Solar Power Project (Miag-ao, Iloilo) – Capacity: 4.5MW Location; Developer: Cosmo Solar Energy, Inc.
* Ajuy 1 Solar Power Plant (Ajuy, Iloilo) – Capacity: 27.75 MW; Developer: JOY-NOSTALG Solaris Incorporated
* Barotac Viejo Solar Power Project (Barangay Santo Tomas, Vista Alegre, & San Roque, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo) – Capacity: 175.29 MW; Developer: Magallanes Solar Energy Corp.
* Luca Solar Power Project (Barotac Viejo and Ajuy) – Capacity: 80MW; Developer: APOLAKI EIGHT INC
* IPC Solar Power Project (Dumangas, Iloilo) – Capacity: 10MW; Developer: Iloilo Power Corporation
WIND POWER PROJECTS (as of December 2024)
* Iloilo CW 1 Wind Power Project (Maasin, Alimodian, Leon, San Miguel, Oton, and Tigbauan) – Capacity: 152 MW; Developer: Citicore Wind Iloilo 1 Inc.
* Iloilo Onshore Wind Power Project (Alimodan, Leon, Tubungan, Igbaras and Miag-ao) – Capacity: 200 MW; Developer: wpd Philippines Onshore, Inc.
* Guimbal Wind Power Project (Guimbal, Miagao, Igbaras, Tubungan and Tigbauan) – Capacity: 200 MW; Developer: Guimbal Wind Energy Corp.
* Iloilo Strait Wind Power Project (Iloilo and Guimaras) – Capacity: 100 MW; Developer: First Gen Visayas Energy Inc.
* San Dionisio Wind Power Project (San Dionisio, Iloilo) – Capacity: 100 MW; Developer: First Gen Visayas Energy Inc.
* East Panay Offshore Wind Power Project (Iloilo and Guimaras) – Capacity: 990 MW; Developer: BuhaWind Energy East Panay Corporation
* Concepcion Wind Power Project (Iloilo and Guimaras) – Capacity: 100 MW; Developer: First Gen Visayas Energy Inc.
* Lemery Wind Power Project (Lemery, Iloilo) – Capacity: 100 MW; Developer: First Gen Visayas Energy Inc.
* Ajuy Wind Farm Project (Ajuy, Iloilo) – Capacity: 200 MW; Developer: Apolaki One Inc.
BOMASS POWER PROJECTS (as of December 2024)
* Biomass Cogeneration Plant (Passi City, Iloilo) – Capacity: 23 MW; Developer: Central Azucarera de San Antonio
* Panay Biomass Plant Project (Barotac Viejo, Iloilo) – Capacity: 15 MW; Developer: Pipinas Renewable Energy Corporation
HYDRO POWER PROJECTS (as of December 2024)
* Igbulo (Bais) Hydroelectric Power Project (Igbaras, Iloilo) – Capacity: 10MW; Developer: Century Peak Energy Corporation/PN
