Seoul: In recent years, efforts by the public and private sectors in Northern Mindanao to promote renewable energy and improve connectivity have begun to show initial progress by 2025.
According to Philippines News Agency, early this year, Northern Mindanao-based renewable energy firm Greenergy submitted a proposal to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Rehabilitation for the refurbishment of the six hydroelectric plants of the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex (APHC) in Mindanao.
Greenergy president Cerael Donggay stated that during the proposed rehabilitation phase, they plan to introduce the Hybrid Economic Dispatch (HED) system, which was conceptualized by the firm in collaboration with the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) and other engineering professionals. The HED system aims to replace fossil fuel-based diesel peaking plants and coal plants while increasing the Energy Storage Project's storage capacity. With a generation cost below PHP2 per kilowatt-hour at the APHC, civil groups like Consumers for Renewable Energy Action in Mindanao and the Oro Chamber have expressed support for its rehabilitation. Other groups, such as Konsumanteng Kagayanon, are advocating for local legislation to encourage investment in renewable energy operations.
Iligan City is also exploring renewable energy sources as part of its smart city agenda. The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities reported an anticipated addition of a power plant generating 470 megawatts (MW) of electricity in Northern Mindanao over the next decade. This includes a 270-MW expansion of FDC Misamis and a 200-MW contribution from the Misamis Oriental Onshore Wind Project.
On the connectivity front, Sittie Rahma Alawi, regional director of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT-10), highlighted that Northern Mindanao leads all Mindanao areas in active free internet access points, with 1,218 hotspots under the Free Wi-Fi for All Program. Contributions from the DICT, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, and partners from academia and business have been pivotal.
During Grab Philippines' public-private initiative in November, Alawi emphasized the importance of connecting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to online platforms, focusing on innovation, online marketplaces, and artificial intelligence (AI). The launch of the "Grab Asenso: Digital Diskarte Program" by Grab Philippines underscored the region's status as a "Digital Champion" and an emerging "Smart City."
A memorandum of agreement between GCash, a digital wallet application, and the provincial government of Bukidnon aims to integrate traditional and digital finance, promoting digital inclusivity for Bukidnon residents. Smart-PLDT has also been instrumental in providing AI training to MSMEs and supporting regional farmers and indigenous communities with digital skills and technology.
Additionally, Aboitiz Foods, in partnership with Aboitiz Foundation, launched the AuroraPH Project to supply solar-powered classrooms, Starlink internet connectivity, and digital learning resources in Iligan City's last-mile schools. The project plans to benefit an additional 300 schools nationwide by 2026, with support from the Department of Education and other stakeholders.
The passage of Republic Act 12234, or the "Konektadong Pinoy" Act, coincided with the NTC's launch of a nationwide broadband mapping system in August, developed primarily by engineers and IT professionals from Northern Mindanao. NTC-10 Director Teodoro Buenavista Jr. hailed the launch as a significant milestone.
As Northern Mindanao's economic indicators, peace, order, and environmental issues evolve, the region's stories of renewable energy and connectivity, fueled by public-private partnerships, are anticipated to grow in prominence in 2026 and beyond.
