The provincial government of Negros Oriental marked an important milestone Friday in its commitment to protecting the green Province with the launching of its very own Clean, Renewable Energy Ordinance.
The RE Code, proposed by Edward Du of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry-Central Visayas and former president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and authored by Board Member Jose Baldado, chair of the SP Environment & Energy Committee, was unanimously approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan — led by Vice Gov. Edward Mark Macias — who all agreed it was a “timely climate action” considering the devastating impact of the warming planet.
The Ordinance was unanimously passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Dec. 23, 2021, and signed into law by Gov. Roel Degamo on Jan. 11.
The RE Code is the first ordinance focused on incentivizing incoming renewable energy investors through carbon credits, as it prioritizes the use of clean sources of power, and bans the construction of coal-fired power plants in the Province.
It likewise encourages all eligible institutions and companies to avail of the government’s Green Energy Option Program that allows power consumers with a monthly consumption of at least 100 kilowatts to get electricity directly from a renewable energy source through licensed GEOP providers.
A Renewable Energy Council will likewise be formed to actively pursue policy-making that will accelerate RE development programs for a greener, energy self-sufficient, and sustainable Province.
The Governor led Friday’s launching of the RE Code via Zoom, for guests based outside Negros Oriental.
Negros Oriental had earlier banned the construction of new coal-fired power plants in the Province when Executive Order 9 was signed on March 28, 2018, declaring an environment-friendly and clean energy Province.
The Governor took it a step further by declaring March 5 of every year as Renewable Energy Day, through Executive Order 22-18 signed in December 2018.
Negros Oriental’s RE Ordinance is expected to increase renewable energy investments in the Province, and help lessen the utilization of coal, which continues to provide about 55 percent of the country’s power supply.
With the RE Ordinance in place, Negros Oriental is the country’s first local government unit to have declared a firm commitment to lower its carbon footprint, and help in the global fight against climate change, fortifying its pledge to become a greener province. (PR)
