THE Department of Energy (DOE) is working with the Bangsamoro government to develop new energy resources, expand electricity access in remote communities and strengthen the region’s capacity to manage its energy sector.
On Thursday, the DOE said it is coordinating with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (Menre) on policies and regulatory frameworks aimed at improving energy security and achieving total electrification.Energy Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said the government wants to ensure BARMM keeps pace with the country’s energy development.For petroleum development, the DOE and Menre are finalizing a joint circular that will establish co-management arrangements for the newly awarded Petroleum Service Contracts 80 and 81 in the Sulu Sea. The framework is expected to strengthen BARMM’s participation in developing petroleum resources within the region.The two agencies are also working on a regulatory framework for the exploration and development of native hydrogen in BARMM.For renewable energy, the DOE is helping BARMM implement a transition agreement signed in November 2024. This includes transferring renewable energy documents through data-sharing, establishing guidelines for projects that overlap national and BARMM jurisdictions, and providing technical assistance for hydropower, wind and biomass development.The initiatives are expected to support the national target of raising renewable energy’s share of the power generation mix to 50 percent by 2040.The DOE is also pursuing the phased transfer of power and electrification functions to Menre and assisting in the development of the proposed BARMM Energy Code, which would establish a comprehensive policy and regulatory framework for the region’s energy sector.Likewise being developed is a consolidated electrification road map to address remaining electricity access gaps, particularly in isolated and off-grid communities such as the Turtle Islands.This includes a proposed Universal BARMM Electrification Act to support sustained electricity access across the region.“Total electrification must mean reaching communities where providing electricity is most difficult,” Bacordo said, adding that geography should not prevent Bangsamoro families from gaining access to it.
