ICSC on Habagat impacts: Invest in long-term climate solutions
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities REACTIVE QUEZON CITY, 20 August 2026 –– With the southwest monsoon (Habagat) bringing heavy rainfall to several parts of Luzon, Philippine-based climate and energy policy NGO Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) emphasizes that beyond hard infrastructure, effective flood resilience requires long-term climate solutions that integrate nature-based solutions, early warning systems, and community-driven initiatives. In detail, ICSC Executive Director Angelo Kairos dela Cruz said: “Metro Manila and nearby provinces have been experiencing heavy rainfall for almost three weeks now, with Filipinos being exposed to daily flooding that submerges their homes, [...]
SONA 2026: ICSC welcomes renewable energy push, calls for evidence-based energy decisions and stronger consumer protection
Following the release of their institutional statement, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) delves deeper in the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA). The organization welcomes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recognition of the role of renewable energy and energy storage systems in strengthening the country’s energy security. The addition of new renewable energy facilities and storage capacity reflects progress in harnessing the Philippines’ indigenous energy resources and reducing reliance on imported fuels. As the country expands these investments, it is important to ensure that energy policies and investments deliver the benefits of an affordable, reliable, and [...]
SONA 2026: Sariling Kuryente must mean affordable rooftop solar for every filipino [Sayang Ang Araw]
Official Statement of the Sayang ang Araw, Gawing Mura ang Solar Campaign on the 2026 State of the Nation Address delivered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. With electricity prices continuing to burden Filipino consumers, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for the passage of the proposed Sariling Kuryente Act is an affirmation of the sentiments expressed by more than majority of Filipinos that scaling rooftop solar is a practical, affordable, and resilient energy solution. Making rooftop solar more accessible to Filipino households is an important step toward giving consumers greater control over their electricity costs. However, legislation alone will not [...]
ICSC reacts to 5th SONA: Promising developments underway, but do not lose sight of climate action and resilience
QUEZON CITY, 28 July 2026 – Responding to the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) Executive Director Angelo Kairos dela Cruz said: “In this year’s SONA, President Marcos was firm: the welfare of Filipinos is his top priority, as it should be. Over the last year, the Philippines faced significant economic challenges, with the energy crisis directly impacting the costs of services, from transportation to electricity, even food. We appreciate the updates on the country’s immediate response the past few months, however, what our [...]
ICSC: Rotating blackouts underscore hidden risks of centralized energy infrastructure
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities REACTIVE QUEZON CITY, May 14 2026 –– The latest rotating blackouts across Luzon and Visayas underscore the systemic risks created by concentrating generation and transmission infrastructure in a limited number of large facilities and critical corridors. From the forecasted available capacity in Luzon of 16,975 MW reported by the NGCP earlier in the day, system availability dropped to 12,447 MW, reflecting how concentration of critical assets can lead to an immediate tightening of power supply conditions. The cascading tripping on May 13 of 500 kV Dasmariñas-Ilijan transmission line at 4:48AM and 500 kV [...]