The Negros Occidental provincial government will launch three programs during the Renewable Energy Week Expo 2026 that kicks off at the SMX Convention Center Bacolod Thursday, May 7, to further accelerate the province’s RE transition.
“I think we can rightly claim that Negros Occidental has become one of the RE capitals of the country. We are ahead of most other provinces in RE transition,” former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela, provincial government consultant on energy and environment concerns, said at a press conference on Wednesday.
During the Renewable Energy Week Expo 2026 that will run until Saturday, May 9, the provincial government will launch RECreate, which will implement community-based RE programs. These will be funded with the provincial government’s savings from its shift towards the use of solar power, Coscolluela said.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson has agreed to use the funds to implement solar power projects in remote communities, he said.
Also set to be launched is the Energy Innovation Sprint to find ways to maximize the harvesting of biodiesel, and the Be REady Roadshow to empower local government units and communities to lead the transition toward clean and renewable energy, Coscolluela said.
The provincial government has partnered with the Department of Energy, Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE), and Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation Inc. in the staging of the province’s third renewable energy week celebration.
The increasing volatility of global oil prices reminds us of the importance of investing in renewable energy and sustainable alternatives, Coscolluela said.
He said they hope to strengthen partnerships, encourage innovation, and inspire communities to embrace energy solutions that secure a better future for Negros Occidental through the Renewable Energy Week.
NICE secretary general Joshua Villalobos said the RE Week Expo is a vital platform for raising awareness and encouraging collective action toward renewable energy solutions.
“Expanding access to clean and affordable energy is crucial not only in addressing the climate crisis, but also in reducing energy poverty experienced by many communities,” he said, citing the RECreate Negros project.
The expo will open on Thursday with a focus on Local Government Units (LGUs) as the primary drivers of renewable energy (RE) development.
The renewable energy success of Toboso will be presented, Coscolluela said.
Also to be discussed are green building design and retrofitting, and financing solutions for the shift to renewable energy.
They will also discuss moves to transition into electric vehicles, sugarcane diversification and biomass power opportunities, and tapping waste biogas for energy instead of incineration, Coscolluela said.*
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