The Negros Occidental provincial government is hosting a whole-day Provincial Energy Summit and Local Government Unit Forum at Nature’s Village Resort in Silay City, Negros Occidental, on Thursday, Nov. 21.
It is being held in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, Rafael L. Coscolluela, Provincial Consultant on Energy and Environmental Concerns, said in a press release.
“The twin events mark a significant milestone as the province officially presents its SecuRE Negros Roadmap (Energy Sector Development Strategy and Action Plan) during a multisectoral session with stakeholders in the morning”, he said.
The Roadmap spells out a comprehensive program in line with the goal of securing Reliable, Renewable, Accessible, Affordable, Available and Sustainable Energy in Occidental Negros by 2030 (RRAAASE-ON 2030), Coscolluela said.
The morning session will convene a diverse assembly of stakeholders, including representatives from power generation companies, distribution utilities, business and industry leaders, civil society groups, academic institutions, financing institutions, and local government units.
The afternoon’s LGU Forum with key officials of the DOE, headed by Undersecretary F.W. “Wimpy” Fuentebella, aims to discuss vital energy development concerns with local
Governments, he added.
Among the topics to be discussed are the Energy One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) Act, the Local Energy Code, the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), an overview of RE potentials in Negros, and the roles of the LGUs in the downstream Oil Industry.
The Energy Development Roadmap of Negros Occidental is a blueprint co-created through extensive consultation with stakeholders over the past months. It embodies the SecuRE Negros goal of making Negros Occidental an energy-secure Province through, among other measures, a decisive transition to locally-generated renewable energy, Coscolluela said.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that the launch of the Energy Development Roadmap “is a testament to our collective commitment to ensuring power security for the province and staying at the forefront of the renewable energy revolution”.
“This roadmap is not just a plan, it is a call to action for all Negrenses to unite and build a future where energy is sustainable, reliable and accessible to all,” he said.
The afternoon forum also provides the Department of Energy with a venue to collaborate with all our local governments on vital energy concerns, Lacson said.*