Negros Occidental is stepping up its push for cleaner energy solutions as the provincial government moves to strengthen community-based renewable energy initiatives aimed at widening access and creating more livelihood opportunities. The effort centers on a new program designed to channel support toward localized clean energy projects that directly benefit underserved sectors across the province.
The initiative, formally introduced as RECreate Negros: Powering Negros through Community-owned Renewable Energy Investments, was unveiled during the closing of the three-day Renewable Energy Week Expo 2026 held at the SMX Convention Center over the weekend. The program is intended to prioritize off-grid communities as well as geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, including farming and fishing populations that often face limited access to reliable electricity.
RELATED: [NegOcc Holds International AI Summit To Explore Tech In Education]
Community-Focused Energy Development Push
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson described RECreate Negros as a reflection of the province’s long-term development direction, emphasizing that its success will be measured not only through infrastructure growth but through its direct impact on people’s lives and opportunities.
“The true measure of development is how these investments improve lives, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for our people. That is why the vision behind RECreate Negros is both timely and significant,” the governor said.
Lacson also stressed that renewable energy initiatives should extend beyond powering facilities, noting that they should contribute to improving livelihoods, expanding access to essential services, and reinforcing community resilience, especially in areas vulnerable to climate-related challenges.
Implementation Plans and Broader Energy Roadmap
Former governor Rafael Coscolluela, who serves as provincial consultant on energy and environmental concerns, explained that the program will move toward full implementation once necessary documentation and systems are completed. He noted that the initiative is expected to stimulate greater demand for solar photovoltaic systems across the province.
“The program will bring renewable energy to the communities in need of power. This will probably launch a renewed demand for more solar PV (photovoltaic) systems in Negros Occidental,” he said.
He added that implementation will rely on a shared funding and responsibility model involving the provincial government, local government units, and participating communities, with support from partner organizations such as the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment and the Negrosanon Young Leaders Institute Inc. Plans are also being explored to establish an annual funding pool that would help communities access solar-based energy systems.
The province’s broader energy direction is guided by the SecuRE Negros Roadmap or Negros Occidental Energy Sector Development Strategy and Action Plan, which outlines long-term goals for sustainable and secure energy development.
Alongside RECreate Negros, the provincial government also introduced the Negros Occidental Energy Innovation Sprint to encourage schools and young innovators to design community-based energy solutions, as well as the Be REady Roadshow to expand renewable energy awareness and engagement across local communities.
Data from the Department of Energy (DOE) shows Negros Occidental holds significant renewable energy potential at 14,277.7 megawatts (MW), including wind at 12,396 MW, solar at 1,787 MW, and hydropower at 94.7 MW.
Assistant Director Ruby de Guzman of the DOE Renewable Energy Management Bureau emphasized the broader value of these resources, saying “these are not just numbers” but also “represent jobs for communities, investments for local economies, stronger energy security, and a cleaner future for the next generation.”
For ordinary Filipinos, initiatives like this signal potential long-term benefits such as lower energy costs, improved electricity access in rural areas, and more local job opportunities tied to clean energy development, while also contributing to national efforts toward sustainability and climate resilience.
