THE PROMISE of renewable energy is often framed in terms of sustainability and climate responsibility. But as Romil Hernandez of the Institute of Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) reminds us, it is also about equity — ensuring that electricity reaches not just city centers but “even those in the farthest reaches of our country.” This is where renewable energy becomes not just an environmental imperative but a tool of social justice.
In Iloilo, this is the vision being worked on. The province’s ordinances and programs — from the Iloilo Provincial Ordinance on Renewable Energy (IPOR), which sets aside one percent of the provincial budget for clean energy projects, to the proposed I-SHARE program, which allocates renewable funds to public schools — are designed not merely to meet national targets but to bring tangible benefits to ordinary communities. Lower electricity bills for schools in rural towns, more efficient systems in barangays, and job opportunities from energy projects are steps toward narrowing the development gap between urban and remote areas.
The list of ongoing renewable projects in Iloilo is impressive: from large-scale solar farms in Ajuy and Barotac Viejo to the East Panay Offshore Wind Project with nearly a gigawatt in capacity. Yet the true measure of success will not be in megawatts produced but in lives changed — in whether the farmer in Tubungan, the fisherfolk in Concepcion, or the student in a mountain barangay can finally enjoy reliable, affordable electricity.
This is where the energy transition intersects with social policy. Too often, power shortages, high costs, and unstable supply hit the poor hardest, especially in far-flung barangays. Renewable energy, deployed strategically, can flip that reality — bringing stability, lowering costs, and creating opportunities where poverty and marginalization are most acute. Iloilo’s initiatives show that it is possible to craft local policies with this equalizing vision at their core.
What makes Iloilo’s case especially notable is the way it ties renewable energy to inclusive governance. By embedding renewable projects in provincial ordinances and education funds, the province ensures that the shift to clean energy is not left to private investors alone but becomes part of public accountability. This is important, for without clear mandates, rural electrification risks being sidelined in favor of profit-driven projects clustered in urban centers. Iloilo’s approach demonstrates that good policy can tilt the balance toward communities that need it most.
The Philippines’ renewable targets — 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040 — will mean little if rural communities remain in the dark. The energy transition must not only decarbonize our economy but democratize access to power. Iloilo’s approach offers a template: use renewable energy not just to fuel growth but to make that growth more inclusive.
If energy is indeed the lifeblood of development, then renewable energy is the key to ensuring that no Filipino — whether in the heart of Iloilo City or in the remotest barangay of the province — is left behind.
