TACLOBAN CITY — Local government units in Eastern Visayas are moving toward renewable energy as a response to unstable power supply that has disrupted health facilities, communications networks and schools in their communities.

The region’s energy concerns stem partly from its heavy reliance on coal-fired power plants, which have contributed to some of the highest electricity rates in the country. Power rates in Eastern Visayas reached as high as P20.96 per kilowatt hour in 2022, despite the presence of a large geothermal facility and other hydroelectric and solar power sources.

On Thursday, several municipalities in Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar signed a memorandum of agreement with the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) to advance local energy transition efforts.

The towns of Alangalang in Leyte; Paranas and Marabut in Samar; and Guiuan, Oras and Salcedo in Eastern Samar committed to developing Local Energy Plans and enacting Renewable Energy ordinances aimed at enabling access to cleaner, more affordable and reliable power.

The partnership formalizes a participatory local energy planning process intended to align community needs and development priorities with clean energy transition strategies supported by enabling policies.

Alangalang Mayor Lovell Ann Yu-Castro said the clean energy transition plan would help build resilience in the municipality.

“It is about lowering power costs for families, and providing energy security for our schools, our health centers, and our public services,” Castro said.

Under the agreement, the LGUs pledged to align their local initiatives with national energy policies, including the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act and the DILG–DOE Joint Memorandum Circular 2020-01, as well as voluntary renewable energy programs such as Net Metering and the Green Energy Option Program.

Paranas Mayor Elvira Babalcon underscored the urgency of local action.

“We affirm that local energy planning is not just an option but a responsibility that local leaders must work on, not in the future but now,” Babalcon said.

“We commit to integrating renewable energy into our local development plans, promoting solar and energy solutions, building local capacities, and encouraging community participation. The foundation of this work should be inclusivity and good governance,” she added.

ICSC will provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to help LGUs conduct multi-stakeholder planning, craft renewable energy ordinances and mobilize investments for the transition.

The organization will also assist in priority initiatives such as rooftop solar adoption in public and private buildings, renewable energy for sustainable tourism, scaling community renewable energy initiatives and conducting information and awareness campaigns.

“Every signature, decision, and step that we take will serve as a symbol of our vision and collective action toward achieving a better and more resilient future for Eastern Visayas,” said ICSC Executive Director Angelo Kairos dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz said collaboration among sectors and institutions shows that the energy transition is achievable.