Manila: Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento attributed the strong cooperation between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Bangsamoro's Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) to the efforts of the Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB), which is also working to accelerate electrification in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, Sarmiento highlighted several major milestones achieved through the collaboration, including the operationalization of the Joint Award Framework for Petroleum Service Contracts and Coal Operating Contracts, the conduct of the first Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Conventional Energy Bid Round, the signing of the first coal operating contract in the region, and advancements in cooperation agreements on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and power and electrification. These developments, he stated, were the "result of years of sustained, focused, and collaborative work" by the IEB and other stakeholders.
Sarmiento credited the steadfast commitment of the Marcos administration to fostering peace and development in the Bangsamoro. He cited milestones demonstrating the President's determination to boost energy efficiency and security in the Bangsamoro, including the signing of the Information Education Campaign on the joint award of petroleum service contracts and coal operating contracts in the region in July 2023, and the approval of the Chief Executive of the first co-management petroleum service contracts in the region in October 2025.
'These are not merely ceremonial events but decisions that carry legal weight and institutional significance. They send a clear and strong signal of this administration's commitment to the meaningful implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law,' Sarmiento said. 'Under the leadership of President Marcos, our office is committed to one goal: ensuring that peace in the Bangsamoro does not merely hold, but firmly takes root, flourishes, and most of all, is felt by every family in the region."
On Wednesday, the DOE and MENRE formalized a partnership through the ceremonial presentation of the Memorandum of Cooperation on Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) and the Transition Agreement for Power and Electrification. The specific objectives of the memorandum include establishing cooperation mechanisms between the DOE and MENRE in implementing energy efficiency and conservation initiatives; supporting capacity-building, technical assistance, and policy alignment; and strengthening regional implementation of national EEC programs.
DOE Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo stated that the agreement creates a strong collaborative framework to ensure the region's growth is "fueled by sustainability, by embedding energy efficiency, to the very fabric of the region's development." Bacordo emphasized that a transition agreement has been formed to address 'one of the most critical foundations of human dignity and economic progress - and that is reliable electricity.'
The agreement also establishes efficient coordination mechanisms between the DOE and MENRE in overseeing the electric power industry, strengthens MENRE's institutional and technical capacities through knowledge-sharing, training, and implementation support, and promotes the adoption of best practices that will help guide the development of BARMM's energy policies and regulatory framework, including the Bangsamoro Energy Code. It ensures compliance of electric power projects within the region with national laws, policies, regulations, and industry standards.
DOE Secretary Sharon Garin stated that the forging of the Transition Agreement is a significant achievement for the people of the Bangsamoro, providing hope for families in remote barangays awaiting electrification, students seeking to study after dark, and small business owners dreaming of reliable power supply. She emphasized that the collaboration between DOE and MENRE ensures that electrification goes beyond connection, aiming to empower communities to use energy wisely, affordably, and sustainably.
MENRE Minister Akmad Brahim noted that managing their own resources allows for more practical, responsive decisions that reflect the unique conditions of communities across the region.
