MANILA - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is currently assisting 24 local government units (LGUs) across the Philippines through its Energy Secure Philippines (ESP) program. The initiative aims to help LGUs implement policies and initiatives in the energy sector.
According to Philippines News Agency, The USAID ESP program mentors LGUs in institutionalizing Local Energy Codes (LEC), conducting energy audits, developing Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plans (LEECP), Local Energy Plans (LEP), complying with the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), and integrating the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) system. Beneficiaries include the provincial governments of Ilocos Norte, Isabela, and Batangas, along with various LGUs in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Under the program, 19 LGUs have institutionalized their LECs, 12 are implementing energy audits, eight have developed LEECPs, five have integrated the EVOSS system, and two have developed LEPs. During a forum organized by the Department of Energy (DOE) and USAID in Taguig City, DOE Director for Energy Utilization Management Bureau Director Patrick Aquino emphasized the crucial role of LGUs in implementing national energy policies. He highlighted the government's commitment to promoting energy-efficient technologies and transitioning to clean and renewable energy sources. The ESP is a five-year program with a budget of USD34 million, aiming to mobilize USD750 million in private sector investments to add an additional 500 megawatts of generation capacity.