Iloilo: The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) is working on an ordinance simplifying the requirements for local energy infrastructure projects in all local government units (LGUs) in the province. The proposed Iloilo Simplified Implementation of Permits and Local Clearances for Local Energy Projects (I-SIMPLE) ordinance seeks for a simple and uniform requirements in all local government units in the province, Iloilo Board Member Rolly Distura said during the ‘Road to Renewables: Conversations to Energy Transitions’ session on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the session was facilitated by the Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the Clean, Affordable, and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia project. Distura said too many requirements would drive away investors. ‘It is anchored on the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) Act, where there is a timeline. We also advocate for each local government to have a renewable energy local economic investment zone as part of their comprehensive land use plan,’ he said. The I-SIMPLE ordinance is currently at the committee level at the provincial board.

Meanwhile, DOE Energy Resource Development and Utilization Division chief Lourdes Arciaga said as of December 2024, the agency has awarded service contracts with a total of 2,122 megawatts of indicative capacity for offshore and onshore projects. These are all in the pre-development or permitting process, including endorsements from LGUs. She said one challenge in the pre-development process is the LGU endorsements. Without delays, she said they can already see wind turbines in the mountainous areas or on shore within 10 years. She hoped that the simplified proposal of the provincial government would attract more investors.

In the same session, Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) senior policy officer Pope John Sotto said that Iloilo is one of the six potential development zones for the country’s 170 gigawatts of offshore wind power, citing the World Bank report on offshore wind roadmap. Based on the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2025 (PEP 2023-2050), the country is aiming to increase its share of renewable energy to 35 percent by 2023 and 50 percent by 2050.