Manila: Filipino climate and energy professionals, led by the Climate Change Commission (CCC), have returned from New Zealand equipped with valuable expertise in renewable energy management. This initiative is designed to support the Philippines' transition to cleaner and more resilient energy systems.

According to Philippines News Agency, in a news release Tuesday, Aimee Evangelista, representing the CCC, announced that the Renewable Energy Project Management (REPM) Short Course was fully funded by the New Zealand Government through its International Development Programme. The month-long training, conducted from May 26 to June 24, was organized with the support of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Education New Zealand (Manapou ki te Ao).

The training aimed to build capacity among professionals in Southeast Asia, including participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, to manage renewable energy projects. The CCC highlighted that the training specifically sought to enhance participants' understanding of renewable energy deployment challenges and opportunities in the ASEAN region, strengthen project management knowledge, and develop practical skills for applying project management methodologies in renewable energy initiatives.

Representatives from the Philippines included the CCC, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the Bangsamoro Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE-BARMM), and ACEN, a recognized renewable energy firm. The course offered a blend of technical insights on various energy sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass, along with practical project management lessons to address real-world challenges in expanding renewable energy locally.

The scholarship aimed to equip participants with the skills and experience necessary for contributing to the social and economic development of their home countries upon return. The CCC emphasized that upskilling professionals in both government and private sectors is crucial for achieving the country's climate goals as outlined in its Nationally Determined Contribution and National Climate Change Action Plan.

The CCC expressed gratitude to the New Zealand government for its ongoing support, which bolsters regional cooperation on sustainable energy and climate action.