Makati city: The Northern Samar provincial government has been honored with the Sustainable Energy Award in the local government unit category by the Department of Energy (DOE) for fostering a conducive atmosphere for renewable energy projects.
According to Philippines News Agency, the award was presented to key officials during a ceremony held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City on Tuesday. The Sustainable Energy Awards is a premier recognition program established by the DOE to acknowledge institutions and organizations that are making significant strides in the development of renewable energy across the nation.
Northern Samar earned this recognition for its forward-thinking policies, efficient permitting processes, and robust inter-agency coordination, which have collectively succeeded in attracting renewable energy projects and strategic investments to the province. Jhon Allen Berbon, head of the Northern Samar Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office, highlighted the provincial government's proactive approach under the leadership of Governor Harris Ongchuan. The province's status as a Competitive Renewable Energy Zone has been leveraged, and the ease of doing business policies along with an attractive incentive framework have been strengthened.
These initiatives have paved the way for the development of eight renewable energy projects that are currently in the pipeline, with a projected combined generation capacity of approximately 1,000 megawatts by 2026. 'We are committed to contributing to the national target of achieving a 35-percent share of renewable energy in the country's power generation mix by 2030, with plans to increase this to 50 percent by 2040,' Berbon commented in a phone interview on Wednesday.
During his acceptance speech, Governor Ongchuan urged other local government units to seize opportunities within the renewable energy sector, stressing the importance of collaboration and innovation in alignment with the Philippine Power Development Plan. The provincial government reiterated its dedication to synchronizing local initiatives with national energy objectives, all while ensuring that the advantages of sustainable energy development are extended to communities throughout Northern Samar.
