The European Union-supported ASEP-CELLs and the ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability Southeast Asia Secretariat (ICLEI SEAS) on August 2021 conducted multiple virtual workshops for the Philippine local government units (LGU) of Bohol, Santa Rosa, and Cagayan De Oro, teaching them how to craft their own Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plans (LEECP), a key requirement of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (EEC Act).

The workshops are based on the LEECP Guidebook being developed by ICLEI SEAS through ASEP-CELLs and the Department of Energy – Energy Utilization and Management Bureau (DOE-EUMB).

Around 60 participants from the partner LGUs, including members of Bohol’s energy advisory group and technical officers from other Bohol municipalities, participated in the workshops. Serving as resource persons were ICLEI SEAS consultant for the LEECP Guidebook, Engr. Charlton Materum, DOE-EUMB, and the DOE Visayas and Mindanao field offices.

Apart from the organizational and structural requirements in formulating, monitoring, and evaluating a LEECP, the workshops incorporated the DOE energy audit process and the LGU Energy Code which reinforces and integrates national energy policies, programs, and mechanisms into local development plans.

As part of the energy audit exercise, DOE and ICLEI SEAS also provided feedback on the LGUs photos of their respective offices to discuss energy performance opportunities and gaps. 

Through the workshops, the three LGUs were able to assess and come up with their respective LEECPs. In the case of Bohol, the workshop and previous activities of ASEP-CELLs kickstarted the collection and monitoring of data to comply with the EEC Act and the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP). On the other hand, Cagayan de Oro and Santa Rosa noted that EEC measures can also contribute in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are grateful for the assistance of ASEP-CELLs and ICLEI SEAS in helping us to act on the requirements of the EEC Act and GEMP,” expressed Bohol’s Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator John Titus Vistal. 

The workshops shall be followed by another capacity building activity on crafting a project proposal scheduled for October this year. 

ICLEI SEAS shall likewise endeavor to finalize the LEECP Guidebook by September before turning it over to the DOE-EUMB as reference of the LGUs in formulating the LEECP.