ILOILO – The Province of Iloilo is breaking new ground in the country’s renewable energy landscape by ensuring that women are not left behind in the transition to clean energy.
Through a landmark collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Women, the province is embedding Gender and Development (GAD) principles into every stage of its renewable energy planning and policy implementation.
The move aims to close gender gaps in the energy sector and make Iloilo’s push for sustainability not only green but also inclusive.
Provincial Administrator Raul Banias emphasized that the initiative reflects Iloilo’s resolve to lead in responsible and equitable energy transformation.
“We have already implemented policies, but it is crucial to mainstream women and GAD in our policies as we transition to renewable energy,” said Banias, noting that Iloilo has earned recognition from the Department of Energy (DOE) for its leadership in energy transition.
The three-day capacity development workshop, hosted by the province’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Desk, gathered officials from local government units, the Renewable Energy Technical Working Group (RE-TWG), and various implementing partners.
The sessions, led by GAD specialist Cecilia Iguiron-Fantastico, guided participants in reviewing existing frameworks and identifying gender-transformative strategies to be integrated into the 2026 Gender and Development Plan and Budget (GPB).
A key focus was aligning the province’s Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan (LEECP) with DOE guidelines and revisiting the Iloilo Provincial Renewable Energy Plan (I-PORE) to ensure gender inclusivity in its provisions.
4th District Board Member Rolando Distura, author of the 2022 Iloilo Provincial Ordinance for Renewable Energy (I-PORE) — the first of its kind in the country with a dedicated budget for renewable initiatives — hailed the collaboration as a crucial step forward.
“The law should be dynamic. As the author, I humbly seek your support for this effort so that we can mainstream gender in our programs and in other ordinances that we craft in the future,” Distura said.
By linking gender empowerment with energy governance, Iloilo positions itself as a national model for inclusive and sustainable development.
The partnership with UNEP and UN Women is expected to inspire other provinces to integrate gender perspectives into their renewable energy agendas, proving that a just energy transition must be both environmentally and socially equitable./PN
