Government agencies, city representatives, and nonprofits from the Philippines came together on 5 June 2025 for a roundtable discussion on how to better integrate energy efficiency into local governance.
The event, “Accelerating Local Energy Efficiency Implementation,” was organized by WWF-Philippines through its Cool & Solar Initiative, which supports Philippine cities in using rooftop solar and efficient cooling solutions.
ICLEI Southeast Asia moderated and documented the discussions.
The roundtable looked at how Republic Act (RA) 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act could be better implemented by local governments, as well as how Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plans (LEECPs) could be included in the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) criteria, an award system that recognizes outstanding local governments.
While RA 11285 mandates local governments to develop LEECPs, many are challenged by factors such as lack of technical staff, limited budgets, and competing priorities.
Speakers from the Department of Energy, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Climate Change Commission noted that supporting local governments in this area is critical since energy efficiency is one of the most practical ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy-related costs.
Representatives from San Fernando City, La Union; Ormoc City, Leyte; and Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte also shared their experiences. San Fernando and Ormoc have been leading with energy retrofits and solarization of public assets, along with designating their respective Energy Efficiency and Conservation Officers. Meanwhile, Dipolog continues to monitor and report the monthly energy performance of its government buildings and facilities, with solarization efforts currently in the pipeline.
WWF-Philippines Climate and Energy Head Atty. Gia Ibay closed the event by thanking participants and highlighting the value of including energy efficiency in the SGLG. She said doing so could motivate more LGUs to act on energy-saving measures, helping both local communities and the country’s climate goals.
