The Negros Oriental provincial government launched its Clean, Renewable Energy Code, believed to be the first of its kind in the country in Dumaguete City Friday, January 28.
“This first of a kind ordinance not only prohibits the construction of all fossil fuel power plants but also commits to phasing-out the use of fossil fuels in a timeline compatible with the 1.5-degree Celsius goal of the Paris agreement,” San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said.
“This ensures that the welfare of our people, environment and climate are not compromised by political whims, short-term gains and self-interests of the few,” he added.
The RE code that was proposed by Edward Du, former president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) and immediate past Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)- Central Visayas regional governor, was authored by Board Member and chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s Environment and Energy Committee Jose A. Baldado.
The ordinance was unanimously passed by the Negros Oriental Sangguniang Panlalawigan on December 23, 2021 and signed into law by Governor Roel Degamo on January 11, 2022.
The RE Code is the first ordinance focused on incentivizing incoming RE investors through carbon credits as it prioritizes the use of this clean source of power and bans the construction of coal-fired power plants in the province.
It also encourages all eligible institutions and companies to avail of the government’s Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) that allows power consumers with a monthly consumption of at least 100 kilowatts to get electricity from a renewable energy source directly from licensed GEOP providers.
An RE council will be formed to actively pursue policy-making that will accelerate RE development programs for a greener, energy self-sufficient, and sustainable province.
Alminaza said through “this ordinance, Negros Occidental exhibits genuine and unparalleled leadership in contributing to climate goals, especially as it turns its back not only on coal, but also all other fossil fuels”.
Du said next month the NOCCI will be drafting another landmark legislation for Negros Oriental, the country’s first green bond flotation ordinance for approval by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
“This ordinance will hopefully attract local and international bond investors especially for the province of Negros Oriental. Once NOCCI and PCCI secures the go signal from BSP, we will once again seek the support of the provincial government for this green bond flotation ordinance,” Du said.
Aside from the Almana hydropower plant, NOCCI and PCCI are also talking to a few interested local and foreign investors in a wind farm and a possible biomass banagrass charcoal and power plant in Pamplona and Amlan, respectively, he added.
Negros Oriental’s RE ordinance is expected to increase RE investments in the province and help lessen the utilization of coal, which continues to provide about 55 percent of the country’s power supply.*