Group to work with E. Visayas LGUs for renewable energy shift [PNA]
by Sarwell Meniano | July 13, 2026 | Published by Philippine News Agency | READ THE STORY HERE TACLOBAN CITY - The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) is expanding its partnership with local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas to help accelerate the region's transition [...]
Alangalang becomes the first Leyte town to chart a renewable energy future through a roadmap workshop
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities PRESS RELEASE TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, July 8, 2026 — The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), in partnership with the Municipality of Alangalang, Leyte, conducted the Renewable Energy (RE) Roadmap Scoping Workshop from June 22 to 25. This positions Alangalang as [...]
Across the Seas, Under the Same Sun
Across Seas, Under the same sun By Sophia Kaye Fernandez “I am happy.” This was what the community leaders told me when I asked them about the installation of the solar PV systems in Fiji. At first, I wanted something else: A [...]
Rethinking Inclusivity: Inclusion Beyond Representation in Climate Adaptation
by Micaella Lou-Andrea Garduce Editor’s Note: Ella currently serves as the Senior Urban Transition Analyst under ICSC’s Urban Development Team. Throughout the implementation of the Urban Act project, I have repeatedly listened to presentations on climate change, the risks it poses, and its projected impacts on communities. For [...]
June power rates rise by 9% despite relief measures
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities PRESS RELEASE QUEZON CITY, July 3, 2026 — Average household electricity rates increased by 9% in June, bringing prices closer to levels last seen during the 2023 global energy crisis. Retail rates increased even as transmission charges declined and temporary regulatory measures [...]
Solar Scholars Across Islands: Bridging Communities through Renewable Energy
By Glinly Alvero Editor’s Note: Glin currently serves as ICSC’s RE-Charge Pilipinas Senior Innovations Officer, based in ICSC’s regional office in Tacloban City, Leyte. With increasing risks and impacts from the changing climate, there are communities that are far more vulnerable than others, and they’re the ones [...]
ICSC, DBP sign partnership to accelerate climate investments through GCF, spark broader collaboration with financial institutions
Following the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) held a coordination meeting in Makati City on June 22 to discuss the development of project proposals under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) [...]
Northern Samar accelerates energy transition through RE Roadmap validation and proposed provincial energy ordinance
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities PRESS RELEASE CATARMAN, NORTHERN SAMAR, June 28, 2026 — Following the initial workshop in April that identified renewable energy (RE) development opportunities, the Provincial Government of Northern Samar took a significant step towards energy transition during the second phase of crafting the Renewable [...]
This Is How We #MoveTogether: Unlocking Solutions to Shared Mobility Issues
By Amber Garma Editor’s Note: Amber is currently the Urban Mobility Campaigns Officer under ICSC’s Urban Development Team. When I moved to Metro Manila at the age of 16 to study, I felt like any other probinsyana would – overwhelmed, lost, and unsure about whether I could ever [...]
Learning Beyond Borders: Understanding Energy through Communities
By: Eve Riou Editor’s Note: Eve recently completed her internship with ICSC’s RE-Charge Pilipinas team, where she was based in the organization’s regional office in Tacloban City, Leyte. When I boarded my flight to the Philippines in February 2026, I had a list of things I [...]
Salcedo LGU takes a step toward a more secure and reliable energy future
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities PRESS RELEASE PALO, LEYTE, 17 June 2026 — Recognizing the crucial role of the local government in forwarding secure and reliable energy in their community, the Municipality of Salcedo, Eastern Samar, joined the Renewable Energy (RE) Roadmap Scoping Workshop led by the Institute [...]
Ahead of Independence Day, advocates call for freedom from high electricity prices through solar energy
QUEZON CITY, 11 June 2026 – On the eve of Philippine Independence Day, civil society organizations, renewable energy advocates, industry representatives, and community members called for freedom from high electricity prices and recurring power interruptions, urging the Philippine government to empower Filipinos with greater access to affordable, reliable, and [...]
OPINION: The new independence movement is on two wheels [GMA News Online]
by: Amber Garma | Published June 10, 2026 via GMA News Online -- READ HERE Cycling continues to be dismissed as merely a pandemic trend or a weekend hobby. In reality, pedaling on two wheels is important since 94 percent of Filipino households do not own cars, according [...]
Transcending Beyond Plans and Papers
By: Jim Lester Triño As a new member of ICSC's Urban Development Team, I felt like being sent to the Transformative Actions for Climate and Ecological Protection and Development (TRANSCEND) Project’s Landscape Launch Series, as part of my first few missions under the project, was the perfect [...]
Paranas LGU sets example for local energy security and resilience
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities PRESS RELEASE PALO, LEYTE, 08 June 2026 — The municipality of Paranas, Samar reaffirmed their commitment to the energy transition and strengthened their local energy security and resilience through the Renewable Energy (RE) Roadmap Scoping Workshop led by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable [...]
Grid alerts, high WESM prices signal need for power system flexibility
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities PRESS RELEASE QUEZON CITY, 01 June 2026 –– The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) emphasized that recurring grid alerts and sustained high prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) point to a fundamental gap in the Philippine power system: the [...]
Moving Together Towards Sustainable Urban Mobility
by Beau Baconguis EDITOR'S NOTE: Beau Baconguis is a Member of ICSC's Board of Trustees. She delivered this speech during the two-day event Move Together: Regional Exchange and Workshop on Sustainable Urban Mobility and Placemaking in Southeast Asia, held from May 22-23, 2026. Good morning everyone! I am so [...]
Communicating Climate Action From the Ground Up
by Jeanne Pauline Alvarez Editor’s Note: Jeanne Pauline Alvarez is a Communications Officer of ICSC, focused on Media and Events. This piece reflects her insights as one of the facilitators for the Science Communication and Content Development Workshop held last April 28-29, 2026 in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Climate action [...]
Indonesia’s export policy shift highlights PHL energy vulnerability
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities PRESS RELEASE QUEZON CITY, 28 May 2026 — The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) stressed the need to strengthen the Philippines’ long-term energy security and affordability amid evolving coal policy developments in Indonesia and increasing volatility of fossil fuels in the [...]
Eastern Samar advances province-wide renewable energy roadmap, strengthens coordinated energy planning
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities PRESS RELEASE QUEZON CITY, 21 May 2026 — The Provincial Government of Eastern Samar advances its commitment to a cleaner, more resilient, and community-centered energy future during the “Localizing Energy Transition: Empowering Local Government to Co-Create the Renewable Energy Roadmap,” held on May [...]