ENERGY sector leaders gathered at the Mindanao Clean Energy Forum 2024 in Cagayan de Oro on September 12 to advocate for renewable energy to solve high electricity costs.
The forum, themed “Fostering Energy Sustainability for a Resilient Community and Economy,” drew local and national participants.
Engineer Cereal Donggay, President and CEO of Greenergy Development Corporation underscored the cost-efficiency of renewable energy, stating that once infrastructure like solar panels and inverters are installed, the energy itself is essentially free.
“After liquidating the initial investment in three (to) four years, the cost becomes zero,” Donggay said, referring to solar and hydro energy, which rely on natural resources like sunlight and water that incur no ongoing costs.
Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, Deputy Executive Director of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), also highlighted growing foreign interest in investing in renewable energy projects in the Philippines.
However, he cautioned that while renewable energy will initially cost consumers, it will eventually lead to cheaper electricity compared to fossil fuel-based sources.
“I can guarantee that renewable energy will be more affordable in the long run compared to fossil-generated sources,” Montenegro said.
While the government has made renewable energy a strategic priority in the past five years, particularly with a focus on offshore wind projects, Montenegro noted that achieving large-scale clean energy still requires strategic planning, legislation, and investor partnerships.
Meanwhile, Gerry Morastil, Manager of the Davao Sur Electric Cooperative (Dasureco), assured the forum that electric cooperatives are committed to supporting the government’s renewable energy initiatives.
“Renewable energy will not only solve supply issues but also improve the quality of service from electric cooperatives,” Morastil said.
