BAGUIO CITY – Key role players on energy across the Cordillera Administrative chairperson Region (CAR) convened at the Citylight Hotel, Baguio City on August 20, 2024, for a consultation workshop on the Cordillera Renewable Energy Master Plan (CREMP) 2024-2033. The event brought together representatives from local government units (LGUs), regional line agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, the energy generating companies, electric cooperatives, and private sector representatives (PSRs) to review proposed strategies and policy recommendations, and validate priority projects aimed at advancing the development of sustainable renewable energy in the region.
The event started with key messages that underscored the importance of collaboration and active participation. PSR Edna C. Tabanda, co- of the CAR Regional Development Council (RDC), delivered a welcome message on behalf of RDC Chairperson and Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr., encouraging open dialogue among participants to attain the plan of “having an affordable, reliable, and clean energy for all Cordillerans and solidify the regions aspiration of becoming the renewable energy powerhouse of the north.” Apollo Edwin S. Pagano, assistant regional director of NEDA-CAR delivered the opening remarks on behalf of Regional Director Susan Sumbeling, expressing enthusiasm for the collaborative efforts to further refine the CREMP 2024-2033 and stating, “Together, we can pave the way for a sustainable and greener Cordillera, and ultimately, achieving the Ambisyon 2040 vision of a matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay para sa lahat.”
Thereafter, Jerome B. Agaloos, Chief of the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Division of NEDA-CAR, presented the key aspects of the CREMP 2024-2033, highlighting both the vast renewable energy potential and the challenges faced by the energy sector in the region.
Ruby De Guzman of the Department of Energy- Renewable Energy Management Bureau also provided comprehensive updates on several key areas on the energy sector, including the implementation of the renewable energy (RE) act, the recently enhanced guidelines for RE contracts, and ongoing improvements to the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop System (EVOSS).
The workshop was organized into two primary sessions. The first session grouped participants by thematic areas—transmission and distribution, regulatory/permitting, generation and LGUs, and watershed management—to discuss challenges faced in implementing renewable energy projects. This session aimed to validate and refine the plan’s strategies and recommendations. It also captured additional strategies and recommendations that address current gaps and challenges in RE development. In the second session, participants were grouped by province to validate and enhance the Investment Plan for the region’s renewable energy projects, allowing LGUs to update the list of their priority RE investments in the next ten years.
Moreover, in his closing remarks, Jose H. Dado, Jr., Chief of the Development and Research Division, emphasized the commitment to not only improving procedural efficiency but also accelerating the development of key renewable energy initiatives. He remarked, “We hope to report concrete actions taken and progress achieved in facilitating the processes we discussed, streamlining permit issuance, and advancing the establishment of our renewable projects, particularly hydropower projects.”
The CREMP 2024-2033 is a strategic update to the previous Cordillera Energy Producer Master Plan 2004-2013 that is in line with the regional priorities set by RDC-CAR Chairperson Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. and supports the national government’s development thrust to harness the renewable energy sources. It marks a significant milestone in the Cordillera’s journey towards sustainable energy development, with the outcomes expected to play a vital role in shaping the region’s future. By Lorie Jean D. Benwasen
