WITH ELECTRICITY COSTS among the highest in Southeast Asia, the government is duty-bound to find cheaper but sustainable power sources to light up communities, and run businesses.
In a study released by People of Asia for Climate Solutions, the group cited an abundant energy source in the Philippines — the sun.
However, PACS hinted at the need for the tens of thousands of local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines to take the lead in achieving energy independence.
NOT JUST SHIELDS
According to Jasmine May Sabado in her capacity as PACS Energy Campaigner, the use of roofs should not be limited to shielding people from heat and rains.
“We are blessed with some of the world’s brightest sunlight and richest solar potentials, and yet we are plagued with the least affordable electricity and the most frequent blackouts in Southeast Asia,” said Sabado.
“The solution is right above our heads, and the catalysts are our barangay captains,” she added.
Case studies in the municipality of Rizal in Nueva Ecija showed that solarizing public buildings delivers both immediate relief and long-term financial gains for LGUs.
PUBLIC ROOFTOPS
Using Barangay Bicos as an example, a P 200,000 budget can install an 11-kW system which can generate around1650 kWh in a month. Under the Net Metering Program (NMP), this can save more than P 12,000 per month for the barangay, with a payback period of only 15 to 20 months.
While NMP works within a barangay’s specific budget, the Expanded Roof-Mounted Solar Program (ERSP) maximizes the full potential of usable public rooftops.
Should there be sufficient funding, Barangay Bicos could fully tap its 1,520 square meters of usable rooftop space to install a 336.24 kW rooftop PV system, complemented by 168.12 kW of energy storage, forming a “community microgrid.”
This setup would enable it to generate more than 50,000 kWh per month, enough to power over 255 households based on the average monthly consumption of 200 kWh.
VIABLE FUND SOURCE
Despite a higher upfront investment under ERSP, with an initial total cost of P 10 million, Barangay Bicos could still break even in about three years, while selling stable solar electricity to barangay households at a much lower price than distribution utilities.
In both models, LGUs gain access to stable, affordable power and generate long-term savings that can be redirected to essential services such as education, healthcare, and disaster risk management. “This proves that rooftop solar is not only technically feasible, but financially smart and socially beneficial,” said Sabado.
Local governments are signaling readiness. Barangay LGUs in Rizal, Nueva Ecija have expressed willingness to pilot rooftop solar under their climate and energy strategies, and other LGUs are beginning to explore similar steps.
For many, the question is no longer “if,” but “when.”
REDIRECTING SAVINGS
An ecstatic Bicos barangay chairman Victor Dela Cruz highlighted how barangays can lead meaningful, local action that creates real impact for their constituents.
“Every peso we save from electricity is a peso we can redirect to other urgent needs like health, safety, education,” Dela Cruz said.
“For small LGUs, solar isn’t just an environmental decision. It’s a financial strategy. Instead of watching our budget disappear into power bills, we want to invest in our people,” he added.
In localities outside Metro Manila, power utility distribution isn’t just scarce. It is also deemed “expensive” because of the extreme disparity in the implementation of wage rates.
FOR CLEAN ENERGY
Researchers stress that the NMP model is readily implementable, offering LGUs a practical way to unlock gigawatts of clean energy while shielding communities from volatile coal, gas, and diesel markets.
But they also note that the ERSP pathway, though requiring stronger policy and financing mechanisms, represents the ideal scenario, enabling LGUs to maximize rooftop potential and deliver benefits at a much larger scale.
Such a vision aligns with national priorities to expand solar access to millions of households and illustrates how LGU-led action can help deliver on that goal.
The report urges the national government to accelerate support by streamlining permits, expanding financing, and ensuring grid readiness. Without decisive action, the country risks losing billions in potential savings and the chance for a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
ANGONO AS TEMPLATE?
As early as 2022, the lakeshore municipality of Angono in the province of Rizal has invested in renewable energy in the form of solar panels installed at the roof of the town hall.
According to Alan Bitong Maniaol, in his capacity as local government administrator, the installed panels serve as an alternative source of energy for the municipal hall.
Under its original plan, the municipal government intended to install a total of 150 panels that could provide 6,607 kilowatts in a month in an earnest bid to “save the local government a lot of money.” By his own admission, the municipality has been paying “40 percent less than the usual.”
Prior to the installation of the solar panels, the municipal government is paying a little less than P200,000 monthly on average.
Aside from being cost-efficient, Angono Mayor Gerardo Calderon hinted at the urgent need to make Angono more environment friendly.
