WITH PROJECT ASPIRE

7 of 20 island barangays to

get RE micro-grids by 2029

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, (PIA)—By 2029, business policies in renewable energy development would have been enhanced and at least 7 of the 20 Bohol outlaying electricity-less island barangays get their own viable solar power micro grid, as the attempt to transition Bohol from fossil fuel dependence to renewable energy advances.

Bohol Association of Non-Government Organizations Inc. (BANGON) Renewable Energy (RE) Project Manager Engr, Jerrey David Aguilar bared this, during the recent Kapihan sa PIA tackling the initiatives of civil society organizations as government partners in community development.

“A study has shown that there are still 20 island barangays that are off-grid, without reliable service, which would certainly be left out when mainland Bohol consumers get more benefits with its shifting to renewable energy,” he explained.

For these, Bangon said they are looking at 4 island barangays coming from Getafe and 3 coming from Talibon, the project manager shared.

The umbrella NGO however clarified through Engr Aguilar that considerations are costs, land area, total consumption and the viability of establishing a community owned and sustained RE microgrid.

And from RE assessments in Bohol, viable RE in Bohol are solar, hydro, biomass and wind, based on a study from an academic research institution here.

Engr Aguilar said that it their efforts to advance environmental sustainability as BANGON has been generally identified, a Singaporean based philanthropic foundation aiming for facilitating Asia’s transition from dirty fossil fuel to a more sustainable RE, also noticed Bohol’s unique positioning in being a leading model for energy transition.

Through nationwide studies by Lumina, Tara Climate Foundation found Bohol with the perfect potential for modeling just transition to renewable energy.

Such is because Asia uses largely fossil fuels which contributed 70% to global emissions leading to warmer climates,

The partnership with BANGON for accelerating just energy transition and creating a ripple to effect a regional movement leading to Asia’s transition from a leading carbon emission economy to a sustainable region also allowed Bohol access to project resources.

And just as Bohol gambled in setting up land-based energy sources to propel its economy after getting hostaged by a submarine-cable served power that is vulnerable to calamities, the provincial option to call for investors in island-based RE resounded with a positive ripple.

But still, with about 70 islands and islets, 20 of then underserved by power, these people can not be left behind, asserted Bangon officials.

Soon to have a little over a hundred megawatts of clean energy generated from its solar farms when completed, the goal of generating more energy and making it available to power utilities and distribution companies, also keeps these off-grid island barangays behind.

The entry of initial RE investors has presented a situation where Boholanos need to be part of.

In here, BANGON presented its help with Tara Climate Foundation in Advancing Sustainable Provincial investments in Renewable Energy (ASPIRE), Aguilar said.

As The Philippines has been a jewel of renewable energy in Asia in the next coming years and Bohol as a leading LGU which has crafted its RE investments Code, many investors are now looking at Bohol.

The project looks at how we create a framework and craft policies that would guide RE development, how to make the decisions more participative of sectors, attract investors from these and without leaving communities behind, sums up Aguilar on project ASPIRE. (PIAbohol)

TO BE WORKED ON. Bangon Bohol would organize communities from electricity under-served islands in Getafe and Talibon for the community to come up with a viable and sustainable renewable energy micro-grid establishment plan before these could be built, as part of Bohol’s civil society participation in the government’s service delivery of clean energy for the environment, explains Engr Jerrey Aguilar of Bangon. (PIABohol)