by Charisse Maxine Parchamento
Editor’s Note: Cha is a Campaigns and Advocacy Officer of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, focused on energy policy.
In my job interview for ICSC, I introduced myself with a precaution: I have limited knowledge and experience in the renewable energy (RE) sector, and it might take some time for me to become confidently familiar with it. My then-interviewers (now, colleagues) assured me that I’d learn about it in the process of working with the Energy Policy Team, and implementing its RE advocacy initiatives. I felt scared and unsure because I didn’t want to feel unequipped for the job; at the same time, it would be a good learning opportunity for a fresh graduate, specifically from the energy sector, which is often overlooked although essential in everyday life. More importantly, I’d like to take the honor of being the least knowledgeable person in the room.
Within one month as ICSC’s Campaigns and Advocacy Officer, I became a part of the organizing team for “The Road to Renewables: Conversations on Energy Transition” leg in Cagayan de Oro, which is held under the Clean, Affordable, and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia Project. The purpose of these roadshows is to engage key actors at the subnational level to build understanding, surface challenges, and identify concrete pathways to advance the energy transition in their localities. During the discussions, I was introduced to the different layers and complexities of the energy sector–its industry and market, science, politics, development opportunities and issues, trade-offs, and community impacts (both negative and beneficial, depending on whose lenses we are understanding it from). Here, I dealt with the reality that the energy sector operates on a highly complex, technical level, yet its impact and purpose are communal and personal because all of us are electricity consumers. Therefore, we are all concerned.
But beyond people’s awareness of the importance of energy security and our involvement in the sector, another question lies: how important is this problem today? How important is this problem over other, more important problems? Should we problematize renewable energy development now? An emerging grievance from the Q&As, breakout sessions, and even the keynote address is that it would be challenging to prioritize energy security and sustainability because there are more pressing and pragmatic issues that need to be addressed, like poverty, hunger, food and job insecurity, healthcare inaccessibility, and lack of quality education—and issues like these were more apparent in 3rd and 4th-class municipalities, outside of Metro-CDO.
This is how I’d like to respond: electricity is a basic need, yet a very expensive one that competes with food and household utility expenses. The cost of electricity in the Philippines strains household budgets as ordinary Filipinos spend 15.7% of their income on electricity costs, which is six times higher compared to the U.S and Japan, with only 2.5% or less. On the contrary, RE poses a significant price reduction and a more secure supply of electricity. This stability is crucial, especially since frequent brownouts, blackouts, and sudden power losses result in economic and opportunity costs. Furthermore, this transition brings immense benefits to the environment, health, and well-being through decarbonization, as it directly minimizes the severe public health toll and climate-related disasters associated with our reliance on fossil fuels. This is critical for many Filipinos who are one health emergency away from poverty.
Under the UNFCCC, social dialogues and stakeholder engagement are key elements of a just transition, as they form the basis for developing and formalizing energy transition plans. These energy dialogues, at both national and local levels, are critical for mapping their actions and targets towards RE development. The CASE roadshow in CDO ignited conversations among local change actors on the current energy situation and local initiatives in their localities. It was designed in such a way that participants were able to share experiences and support one another to accelerate progress in RE.
The tangible “plans” and “initiatives” that emerge from these roadshows are what our advisors enthusiastically call “harvests”: these come in the form of awareness campaigns by youth groups and students, research ideas and collaboration among the academe, financial partnerships between RE developers and banks, and energy summits or the formulation of energy planning boards for LGUs, and even future energy transition dialogues targeted across all levels of influence and awareness. While these initiatives can be a bit overwhelming, we ought to assist, coordinate, create, and maintain partnerships, and move rapidly from one event to the next. The dedication of local partners and participants who initiated these makes it worthwhile. After all, the true measure of the roadshow’s success is generating sustained local demand and momentum for renewable energy action.
During an educational trip to Singapore last 2024, I was engaged with various government and NGO initiatives focused on sustainability and future mitigation, where they address anticipated problems like an aging population and local water supply shortages. Witnessing their foresight and capacity to prepare for such issues several years ahead, I admittedly felt defensive about my own country’s capacity and thought, ‘They can prepare for the future because their present isn’t too dark.’
I am reminded of this experience as I reflect and question the immediate relevance of renewable energy advocacy amid the urgent social issues we face today. Thankfully, this roadshow granted me an answer: Preparing for the future shouldn’t be a privilege that only developed countries can afford.
These roadshows are avenues to help and empower Filipinos to prepare for a sustainable future—one defined by clean, affordable, and secure energy. This, I believe, is the ultimate harvest.
