BY JADE G. GUMBAN, ALDRIN JAMES A. BOHOL & ROCHELLE ANN L. UBAUB/DNSC Interns
THE MINDANAO Development Authority (MinDA) will push for reducing Mindanao’s dependence on imported fuels and expanding renewable energy sources to build resilience against economic shocks.
Speaking at the Media Forum at Habi at Kape on Wednesday, April 15, Assistant Secretary Romeo M. Montenegro emphasized that coal remains critical for reliability while the region transitions to diverse energy sources. He noted that almost 40 percent of Mindanao’s energy already comes from renewable sources.
Montenegro emphasized the importance of transitioning to energy sources that are readily available locally.
In line with the “50-50 by 2030” campaign, which aims to shape the region’s renewable energy trajectory, the plan pushes for an island-wide shift to a 50% renewable and 50% non-renewable energy mix. This balance is intended to ensure that power remains affordable, reliable, and sustainable.
“The situation is telling us to become less dependent on imported sources of fuel. That’s why we need to transition to more renewable energy. This is our target in Mindanao, which we have been communicating, conveying, and advocating across all sectors,” Montenegro emphasized.
He also highlighted the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels while recognizing their current economic role, and emphasized the need to move toward more sustainable solutions.
“We should strongly encourage accelerating this transition because the more renewable energy we use to power our electricity on a daily basis, the more resilient we become to external shocks. Even if the prices of coal or diesel rise significantly, we can rely on locally sourced solar, hydro, and biomass energy. This allows us to continue enjoying greater economic and environmental benefits through this very important transition,” Montenegro said.
Montenegro also highlighted ocean technology under the blue economy, citing a $500 million initiative launched in December that goes beyond fisheries like tuna and sardines to include investable energy sources.
He pointed to existing windmill projects in other regions and questioned why Mindanao has not pursued similar renewable energy investments.
“Energy, like food, is also widely available, scalable, and investable in many countries. In fact, several nations are already sourcing electricity from ocean-based technologies. However, this is not yet present here—if ever, it would be the first time to explore it in Mindanao. In other countries, ocean waves are already being used to generate electricity. Similarly, offshore wind energy is also being developed, which has already started in Luzon,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, pre-feasibility studies for hydrogen energy are ongoing, with Montenegro expecting more renewable technologies to deliver additional economic and environmental benefits for the region.
