TACLOBAN CITY — Northern Samar is positioning itself to become the first province in the country to fully transition to clean power following the creation of a comprehensive renewable energy roadmap.

The provincial government drafted the blueprint during a multistakeholder consultation that included civil society groups, electric cooperatives, state agencies, private sector investors and community representatives.

This consultation follows an initial workshop in April where local officials mapped out clean energy opportunities.

Provincial Planning and Development Officer Jay Keenson Acebuche said the initial assessment highlighted Northern Samar’s abundant natural energy resources, falling costs of solar technology, strong public-private partnerships, active investor interest and available local technical expertise.

Arturo Tahup, director for community resilience at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), said the province’s planning process heavily incorporates public feedback.

“The people and communities should have both stake and voice — should be front and center — in crafting the Northern Samar RE Roadmap,” Tahup said. “The decisions we make today will shape the future of our energy systems, our communities, and our resilience.”

Northern Samar Governor Harris Ongchuan backed the initiative, stating that the roadmap directly reflects the priorities of local residents.

“The question before us is no longer whether Northern Samar has renewable energy potential; we already know that it does,” Ongchuan said.

“The question now is how we can work together to transform that potential into real opportunities and lasting benefits for every Nortehanon,” he added.

A central component of the strategy is a proposed provincial ordinance that would establish the Provincial Energy Sector Committee (PESC).

The ordinance aims to institutionalize energy planning and ensure critical public infrastructure is prioritized during power grid developments.