WWF-Philippines’ FInRE-BXU Program a Good Example of Local Government Participation in Energy Planning
August 2020
The environs surrounding Butuan City. Many options for renewable energy exist for places like Butuan. Photograph © Gregg Yan / WWF-Philippines
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, together with the LGU of Butuan participated in a virtual forum on Republic Act 11285, or Energy Efficiency and Conservation Law for Mindanao LGUs. The forum was hosted by the Department of Energy (DOE), the European Union-supported Access to Sustainable Energy Programme (EU-ASEP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the ASEP Clean Energy Living Laboratories (ASEP-CELLS).
The forum is the latest milestone in WWF-Philippines’ Financing and Integrating Renewable Energy in Butuan City (FiNRE-BXU) project. The project is a bottom-up, top-down planning process that looks to address Butuan’s energy gaps. To do this, WWF-Philippines has been training local stakeholders, integrating indigenous resources, and engaging financing institutions and energy developers to pursue clean, sustainable energy projects.
Pollution rises above Agusan River. The FInRE-BXU project represents the coming together of many sectors of Butuan society for the sake of protecting their local environment and solving their cities’ issues. Photograph © Lory Tan / WWF-Philippines
The forum brought together LGUs and energy stakeholders from across Mindanao, presenting an opportunity for WWF-Philippines to maximize the potential impact of the FInRE-BXU project. The Butuan LGU was thus given an opportunity to share their experiences with the project.
Atty. Noel Ephraim Antigua of the City Mayor’s Office of the LGU of Butuan presented the cities’ efforts together with the FInRE-BXU project. Antigua gave emphasis to their work to comprehensively cover not just energy efficiency and conservation, but also matters of transportation and power.
WWF-Philippines Climate and Energy Head Atty. Angela Ibay, together with WWF-Philippines FInRE-BXU Project Manager Cheerylyn Agot, were present on behalf of the conservation organization. Present as well were Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Marjorie Jalosjos.
“Our project can help the Butuan City government decide what energy projects to prioritize and undertake based on a sound analysis of data, as opposed to a mere wishlist. The project makes LGU’s work easier, lighter, and more advanced in pursuing better solutions that reduce GHG emissions,” said Agot who, together with the TWG, has explored projects that both expand renewable energy capacity for Butuan, and that increase power efficiency and allow the city to save.
The Butuan TWG sits down for a capacity building workshop organized by WWF-Philippines. The democratic process adopted by FInRE-BXU and the TWG creates solutions that make sense to the average Filipino. Photograph © WWF-Philippines
Beyond being an important step toward a renewable future for Butuan City, the forum presented the FInRE-BXU project as a viable proof of concept to local energy planning.
“The Butuan LGU has since increased its participation in energy issues. There is now a joint Department Circular between the DILG and the DOE, emphasizing the relevance of the local government’s role in energy planning and development. This is good news – it’s important that local governments play a part in plotting out their energy solutions,” says Atty. Ibay. Atty. Ibay has overseen similar projects in Palawan, where sustainable off-grid energy solutions were sought out with the support of local governments.
“We’ve been exploring not just power sources but also energy efficiency and conservation for buildings and appliances used, together with our academic partner, the UP Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute Research and Development Foundation, Inc. (UP EEEIRDFI). We’ve also been looking at efficient transport systems for the LGU’s operation which, in the long run, saves both money and the planet,” explains Agot. The project not only highlights the importance of renewable energy, but stresses the need for democratic processes in coming up with sustainable solutions that benefit the people.
“This is an endeavor that requires the collaboration of energy stakeholders from local and national organizations alike. This project highlights local dynamics that most top-down plans lack. The locals understand their needs the most. By involving the public, we create power supply and energy efficiency solutions that make sense to them and that they can benefit from,” continued Agot.
WWF-Philippines now hopes to inspire LGUs across the country to #ChangeTheEnding by adopting similar, collaborative approaches, with the help of the DOE and other development partners. The conservation organization believes this to be the best way to train LGU energy planners as well.
The Butuan TWG explores possible sustainable sources of energy. The efforts of FInRE-BXU and the people of Butuan stands as a good example for cities and communities all across the country. Photograph © WWF-Philippines
The Philippine lockdown has proven to be a massive challenge for development work across the country – but WWF-Philippines, together with its partners, continues in pursuit of a sustainable future for all Filipinos. Work with WWF-Philippines, and help us #ChangeTheEnding on the environmental crisis.
The Financing and Integrating Renewable Energy in Butuan City (FInRE-BXU) Project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Cheerylyn Agot
FInRE-BXU Project Manager
cagot@wwf.org.ph
For media arrangements, please contact:
Ms. Pam Luber
Integrated Communications Manager
pluber@wwf.org.ph
