From one of the poorest provinces in Eastern Visayas, Northern Samar is finally taking off to become one of the most promising beacons of renewable energy in the region.
Recently, the province bagged the Department of Energy's (DOE) Sustainable Energy Awards 2025 under the local government units category, recognizing its leadership and initiatives in advancing renewable energy.
In a letter sent to Governor Harris Christopher Ongchuan on Thursday, the DOE commended the province for its “strong and sustained commitment to creating an enabling environment for the deployment of renewable energy within its jurisdiction.”
The DOE Sustainable Energy Awards selection committee cited several milestone initiatives that set Northern Samar apart, including being the first province in the Philippines to adopt a green lane policy for renewable energy investments.
The initiative ensures fast-tracked processing while safeguarding environmental and sustainability standards.
The provincial government also implemented its Corporate Social Responsibility Ordinance of 2025, which has generated significant socioeconomic benefits for local communities.
John Allen Berbon, head of the provincial economic development and investment promotions office, said the award affirms the province’s efforts to contribute to the country’s clean energy goals.
He noted that under former governor Edwin Ongchuan (2022–2025), Northern Samar pursued a bio-circular-green economy, a direction that Governor Harris Ongchuan continues while also prioritizing health, climate change adaptation, and employment.
“Northern Samar set its sights on establishing a bio-circular-green economy. Now, Governor Harris Ongchuan is continuing this effort and has added health, climate change adaptation, and opportunities for work and employment as priorities,” Berbon told media.
“Our energy portfolio includes one hydroelectric power plant, three proposed solar farms, the first tidal energy project in Southeast Asia, and a recently proposed waste-to-energy plant… As a result, all our efforts are dedicated to clean, sustainable, and environmentally friendly projects, to earn recognition for our commitment,” Berbon added.
Northern Samar has one onshore wind project in either the development or construction phase, alongside three projects currently in the pre-development stage.
These include the 206-megawatt (MW) San Isidro Wind Power Project, which has been approved for activation by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) last October.
Gemini Wind Energy Corp., the local unit of Singapore-based Vera Energy, is also investing P20.2 billion in a 304-MW wind farm across 15 towns in the province, slated to start operations in late 2026.
The awards night for the Sustainable Energy Awards 2025 will be held on December 16 in Makati City.
(With report from PNA)
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