• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
Negros Occidental is advancing its commitment to clean, reliable, and sustainable energy for the future as it brought together over 20 exhibitors and partner organizations for the opening of the Renewable Energy Week Expo 2025 held at the SMX Convention Center on July 17.
Exhibitors in the fields of business, agriculture, technology, and science featured their advocacies and products that manifest the long-term solution and the commitment to sustainable renewable energy.
The event is anchored with the “SecuRE Negros” campaign, a flagship program of the province that aims to accelerate the transition of energy consumption to renewable energy.
This year’s expo, led by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, in collaboration with the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and Environment (NICE), Inc., and the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), embodied the theme “Everyone for R/E, R/E for Every Juan,” emphasizing the call for responsible consumers.
“The future we envision is one where all Negrenses will have access to renewable, reliable, accessible, available, affordable, and sustainable energy. That is what SecuRE Negros is all about,” said Lacson during his opening remarks.
Present at the event were some of the advocates, innovators, and leaders of the different cities and municipalities across the province that took part in shaping a more sustainable and energy-secure Negros Occidental.
Guest speaker Department of Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella highlighted the long-term results of investing in renewable energy resources and its need in terms of economic aspects.
“Today, the machines are cheap, but oil is expensive because the oil is not under our control, as most of it is imported from other countries. That’s the risk,” Fuentebella stressed.
Moreover, former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela, now serving as Provincial Consultant on Energy and Environmental Concerns, accentuated the responsibility of the local government for a positive renewable energy program during the panel discussion in “Reliable, Renewable, Accessible, Affordable, Available, and Sustainable Energy for Negros Occidental by 2030 (RRAAASE-ON 2030).
“Local government units are mandated to have in place your local energy efficiency and conservation plans, which call for the reduction of energy consumption by at least 10 percent. If possible, for the local governments to actually invest in renewable energy systems,” Coscolluela highlighted during the panel discussion.
He also urged the LGUs to harmonize their actions with the provincial government’s sustainability initiatives for the convenience of stakeholders and investors in the province.
Coscolluela also shared the reason why the province is pushing this long-term goal, saying, “The country may be blacked out, but Negros is still lighting up; that was our dream. That will only be possible if we are able to take advantage of our built-in natural resources and we are able to bring the required investments.”
The Renewable Energy Week Expo 2025 is open to the public from July 17-19, which will cover a series of forums and exhibitions.”*
