CATARMAN, Northern Samar — The provincial government of Northern Samar is refining its renewable energy roadmap through a public consultation aimed at strengthening the province’s energy security, resilience and access to sustainable power.
The consultation was held August 25, 2026, at the provincial capitol and brought together members of the Provincial Energy Development Council (PEDC), representatives of government agencies, academe, energy stakeholders and cooperatives.
Jay Keenson Acebuche, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Planning and Development Office, said the consultation sought to review, improve and validate the roadmap’s objectives and ensure that the proposed strategies respond to the province’s energy needs.
Acebuche said reliable and sustainable energy is essential to critical services and economic activities, including hospitals, utilities, digital education, agriculture, water systems, fisheries and local livelihoods.
The proposed roadmap envisions an energy system that is stable, affordable, accessible, resilient and sustainable. Provincial officials said expanding renewable energy could help improve essential services, support livelihoods, stimulate economic activity and strengthen communities’ preparedness for disasters and other emergencies.
During the consultation, stakeholders called for a practical and easy-to-understand roadmap that would clearly identify incentives for renewable energy investments and translate technical concepts into actionable measures.
Participants also recommended integrating human capital development and employment opportunities into the roadmap, including the establishment of a “green energy skills pipeline” involving academic and training institutions to develop local technical expertise.
The consultation also highlighted the need to strengthen the roadmap’s policy, monitoring and evidence base, align national energy laws with local conditions, and establish clear and measurable indicators for implementation.
Stakeholders further proposed an inventory of existing solar installations, stronger community preparedness initiatives and additional studies to address gaps in energy-related data.
The consultation supports the provincial government’s efforts under the leadership of Governor Harris Christopher M. Ongchuan to develop a reliable and sustainable energy system for Northern Samar and future generations.
(EUGENE M. ENANO)
