EVisayas: RE vital to disaster response
REGION 8 (Eastern Visayas) government officials, recognizing that renewable energy (RE) is crucial in humanitarian and disaster response, are supporting its institutionalization in the local development plans of provinces, cities, municipalities and barangay (villages) in the region.
Ildebrando Bernadas, head of the Tacloban City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said it has been a long dream of humanitarian action “to really come to know about RE as an alternative for disaster emergency response.”
During the recent Renewable Energy for Humanitarian Action (RE4HA) Marketplace and Summit, he added that this venture will “cover the entire operation of any local government, business or economic enterprise.”
Organized by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) in partnership with Oxfam Pilipinas, the RE4HA Marketplace and Summit gathered representatives from government agencies, local government units (LGUs), civil society organizations, humanitarian actors, academic institutions, women’s organizations and RE developers to discuss RE services and business models that can be adopted in Eastern Visayas.
ICSC Director for Community Resilience Arturo Tahup presented the workshop findings identifying three priorities that can contribute to the effective integration of RE in humanitarian action, DRR and local development. These were building on appropriate RE technologies and best practices to eventually move away from the overreliance on fossil fuels; regular training and mentoring of locals; and strengthening the local communities’ capacity to manage and sustain RE initiatives.
Tahup said that “multi-actor partnerships are the magic wand that makes these initiatives innovative and solid.”
This was echoed by Jam Colas, National Economic Development Authority Region 8 assistant director, who emphasized collaboration to be “able to move forward … Let us work together to attain these targets.”
At the forefront
Colas noted that integrating RE in humanitarian action aligns with the goals and thrusts of the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan 2023-2028. This initiative will promote human capital and social development, establish livable communities, expand and upgrade infrastructure, accelerate climate action and strengthen regional disaster resilience.
National and local RE developers and providers presented technologies and solutions to multi-actor stakeholders during the summit, including small photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar generators, solar water pumps, RE microgrids and solar-powered desalination and purifying systems. They aimed to have them implemented accordingly in the region based on locals’ humanitarian and DRR energy needs.
Officials said Eastern Visayas has been at the forefront of climate change impacts, including extreme weather events such as typhoons and extreme heat, and slow onset impacts such as sea level rise, ocean acidification and saltwater intrusion. They said the region’s off-grid and isolated areas do not have 24/7 access to electricity. Eastern Visayas’ lack of access to reliable and sustainable energy becomes prominent during disasters, negatively impacting the delivery of essential emergency services to frontline communities.
Liga ng mga Barangay ng Tacloban Vice President Raymund Balagapo noted that having RE sources such as solar power in every barangay can contribute “to the communities’ safety and security measures, as well as communication efforts.” The LGUs can “coordinate our response and give timely updates to command posts and government agencies, as well as receive proper guidance from the CDRRMO [during emergencies].”
Lord Byron Torrecarion, Office of Civil Defense Region 8 director, said RE brings hope to disaster survivors: hope that they are not alone, that they are not forgotten, and that some people and organizations are there to help. “RE ticks all the boxes on disaster management, and now it is up to us to apply it in our plans and response efforts,” Torrecarion added.