ILOILO CITY, 28 August 2025 — Iloilo is fast becoming a major player in the country’s clean energy future, with over 1,300 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind service contracts already awarded across the province, according to the Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas Field Office.
This promising figure was among the highlights of the Iloilo leg of “The Road to Renewables: Conversations on Energy Transition”, during the Media Kapihan held on August 21 at Richmonde Hotel, Iloilo City. The dialogue was organized by the Clean, Affordable, and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia initiative, in partnership with the DOE, the Iloilo Provincial Government, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), and GIZ Philippines.
The event gathered local officials, renewable energy (RE) developers, civil society groups, and the media to discuss RE development in the region, challenges in permitting, and the vital role that accurate and accessible narratives play in shaping public understanding.
The panel discussion started with Rey Victor Garin, the province’s focal person for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Desk, who mentioned the ongoing initiatives and policies that demonstrate Iloilo’s active engagement in RE development. “We’ve passed key ordinances such as the Iloilo Provincial Ordinance on Renewable Energy (I-PORE), which allocates a portion of the provincial budget for RE projects. Alongside this is the development of the Provincial RE plan, the Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan, and established local energy offices to support project implementation,” Garin said.
The DOE Visayas Field Office confirmed that as of December 2024, over 1,390 MW of service contracts have been awarded for offshore wind (OSW) in Iloilo, including 990 MW in East Panay and Sicogon, 100 MW in Concepcion, and 100 MW in the Iloilo Strait. Additional projects totaling over 350 MW in onshore and offshore wind are also in the pre-development pipeline.
Pope John Sotto, Senior Policy Officer of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), noted that Iloilo’s OSW potential could contribute up to 35% of the Philippines’ national electricity demand if fully realized. However, he and other panelists highlighted the urgent need to streamline permitting processes and secure stronger support from local governments.
The Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) platform was highlighted as a tool for improving permitting efficiency, though officials noted that adoption in the region remains low. As of now, only Iloilo City is enrolled in the EVOSS platform across the province.
The dialogue also highlighted the need for a just and inclusive transition where communities are not only consulted but also benefit directly from energy developments. ICSC Grid Modernization Advisor Gaspar Escobar Jr. underscored the Energy Regulations No. 1-94 (ER 1-94), stating that “host communities can gain financial benefits from their electric sales to support other local development projects like electrification, livelihood programs, and environmental initiatives.” The Iloilo Provincial Government, for example, is expanding net-metered RE installations in hospitals, using energy savings to improve healthcare services, and communities may also benefit from wind energy developments through job creation and economic growth, through the expanding need of allied industries such as steel and cement.
In addition, ICSC’s Director for Energy Policy, Romil Hernandez, further stressed that “the shift towards renewable energy is not only technical; it is a societal transformation. And the media plays a strategic and pivotal role in changing narratives and building momentum towards a future that is clean, affordable, and secure, where energy is accessible for all.”
The discussion concluded with a closing remark from Hon. Rolando B. Distura, 4th District Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member of the Iloilo Province, who emphasized the importance of community support and engagement towards the province’s future renewable energy projects. “We hope that this event further deepened your knowledge to better explain the importance of the energy sector and share the provincial government’s effort in advancing renewable energy to our communities,” he said, noting Iloilo’s pioneering projects as key examples of science-based innovation and effective leadership.
The Media Kapihan Session showcased Iloilo Province’s efforts in its energy transition, featuring ordinances, projects, and upcoming plans from the provincial and local levels, serving as an inspiration for other regions. Organized by CASE Philippines, the event was part of the four-day roadshow “The Road to Renewables: Conversations on Energy Transition”, which brings together stakeholders for energy dialogues and workshops. This roadshow marks the second stop of the series, after its initial run in Tacloban City last July.
ABOUT
Clean, Affordable, and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia (CASE) is a regional project implemented in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam that aims to drive the Southeast Asian power sector towards decarbonization and increased climate mitigation ambition.
CASE in the Philippines is jointly implemented by GIZ Philippines, with the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities as the expert organization and the Philippines’ Department of Energy as the political partner.
CONTACT
Sanafe Marcelo, ICSC: media@icsc.ngo, +63968 886 3466
Sophia Fernandez, ICSC: media@icsc.ngo, +63918 455 8870
Ira Guerrero, ICSC: media@icsc.ngo, +63917 149 5649
PHOTOS
Photos can be accessed here.
