Iloilo secures 1,300 MW in offshore wind projects

Iloilo is emerging as a leader in the Philippines’ clean energy transition with more than 1,300 megawatts of offshore wind service contracts awarded in the province, according to the Department of Energy Visayas Field Office.

The figure was highlighted during the Iloilo leg of “The Road to Renewables: Conversations on Energy Transition” Media Kapihan held on Aug. 21 at Richmonde Hotel in Iloilo City.

The event was organized by the Clean, Affordable, and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia initiative in partnership with the DOE, the Iloilo Provincial Government, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, and GIZ Philippines.

Local officials, renewable energy developers, civil society groups, and media representatives joined the dialogue to discuss renewable energy development in the region, challenges in permitting, and the role of public narratives in shaping awareness.

Rey Victor Garin, Iloilo’s focal person for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Desk, cited ongoing initiatives that show the province’s proactive stance on renewable energy.

“We’ve passed key ordinances such as the Iloilo Provincial Ordinance on Renewable Energy (I-PORE), which allocates a portion of the provincial budget for RE projects,” Garin said.

“Alongside this is the development of the Provincial RE plan, the Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan, and established local energy offices to support project implementation,” he added.

The DOE reported that as of December 2024, more than 1,390 MW of offshore wind contracts have been awarded in Iloilo, including 990 MW in East Panay and Sicogon, 100 MW in Concepcion, and 100 MW in the Iloilo Strait.

Additional projects amounting to more than 350 MW in onshore and offshore wind are also in the pre-development pipeline.

Global Wind Energy Council Senior Policy Officer Pope John Sotto said Iloilo’s offshore wind potential could supply up to 35 percent of the country’s electricity demand if fully developed.

He and other panelists stressed the need to streamline permitting and boost local government support for renewable projects.

The Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop was presented as a tool for easing permitting, though officials noted that only Iloilo City has enrolled in the platform so far.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of an inclusive energy transition that benefits local communities.

ICSC Grid Modernization Advisor Gaspar Escobar Jr. pointed to Energy Regulations No. 1-94, which allows host communities to gain financial benefits from electricity sales to support electrification, livelihood, and environmental programs.

He added that Iloilo is expanding net-metered renewable energy installations in hospitals, using savings to improve healthcare, while communities can also benefit through jobs and growth in allied industries such as steel and cement.

ICSC Director for Energy Policy Romil Hernandez emphasized that “the shift towards renewable energy is not only technical; it is a societal transformation. And the media plays a strategic and pivotal role in changing narratives and building momentum towards a future that is clean, affordable, and secure, where energy is accessible for all.”

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Rolando B. Distura of the 4th district said renewable projects in Iloilo showcase leadership and innovation and underscored the need for community engagement.

“We hope that this event further deepened your knowledge to better explain the importance of the energy sector and share the provincial government’s effort in advancing renewable energy to our communities,” Distura said.

The Iloilo session was part of a four-day roadshow organized by CASE Philippines under “The Road to Renewables: Conversations on Energy Transition,” which also held its first leg in Tacloban City in July.