The second Liveable Cities Lab of 2026, focused on "Energy: Transition to Renewables," was successfully convened on June 10, 2026, at the First Philippine Holdings Caseroom, Asian Institute of Management, Makati City, by Liveable Cities Philippines, in partnership with Ayala Corporation, Globe Telecom, and the League of Cities of the Philippines.
The event brought together national and local government leaders, private sector innovators, and development experts for an afternoon of dialogue tackling one of the most urgent challenges Philippine cities are facing today: accelerating the shift to clean, affordable, and resilient energy systems.
The Lab highlighted that the energy transition in the Philippines is no longer just an environmental goat: it is a governance, economic, and development essential. Speakers discussed how collaboration between local governments, national agencies, and the private sector can bridge the gap between policy and on-the-ground implementation, and how cities can move from plans to action through the right partnerships, financing models, and political will.
Ms. Liza V. Pangilinan of the Department of Energy's Renewable Energy Management Bureau opened the discussions by laying out the national policy landscape. She presented the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050, which targets 35% renewable energy share in the power generation mix by 2030, rising to 50% by 2040 and beyond. She walked participants through the key mechanisms available to LGUs and consumers, from the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) and Net-Metering Program to the Green Energy Auction Program and the Expanded Rooftop Solar Program, emphasizing that transitioning to renewable energy brings not only environmental benefits but also cost savings, sustainability, and stronger city branding. She also highlighted that the Philippines has been recognized as the world's 4th most attractive emerging market for renewable energy investment, signaling strong investor confidence in the country's clean energy potential.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte then showed how the national plan actually works on the ground, sharing her city's real progress on renewable energy. She shared how stationary energy accounts for 60% of the city's greenhouse gas emissions, making the scale-up of renewable energy central to achieving the city's target of reducing GHG emissions by 30% by 2030 and reaching net-zero by 2050. Under her leadership, solar panels have been installed across 5 City Hall buildings, 3 city-owned hospitals, and 25 public schools, generating over PHP 7 million in energy savings from January to May 2026 alone. The city has also launched a Rooftop Solar Dashboard to digitally map solar capacity and demand, signed a tripartite agreement with Meralco and the Energy Regulatory Commission to expand solar access for residents, enacted the Quezon City Green Building Code of 2025, and is actively transitioning its public bus fleet and government vehicles to electric and hybrid alternatives. Mayor Belmonte affirmed that the renewable energy transition is not only possible but is necessary, and cities must be at the forefront of building a more resilient future.
Globe Telecom's Raymond Aguilar then shared how one of the country's biggest companies is going all-in on renewable energy and what that kind of long-term commitment actually looks like in practice. He discussed that by the end of 2025, Globe had powered over 350 sites through renewable energy via Retail Aggregation Program PPAs, deployed over 20,800 energy-saving solutions generating PHP 510 million in savings, and achieved a 15% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions which far exceeded its near-term targets. He highlighted how energy-efficient technologies in cooling, smart optimization, and battery systems are critical components of Globe's Green Network strategy, and called on cities to see the private sector not just as a service provider, but as a genuine partner in the sustainability transition.
Engr. George William C. Hong, City Engineer of Makati City, shared what is perhaps the most landmark achievement of the day: Makati City becoming the first LGU in the Philippines to use 100% renewable energy, a milestone achieved in March 2026. He presented Makati's "YES MA'AM" strategy: a practical framework that guided the city through Yearning for the vision, Evaluating stakeholders and resources, strategizing through key policies and programs, Meeting with private sector partners, Accepting and Aligning proposals to city goals, and Making it Happen through execution. Through an unsolicited offer with bid matching under the New Government Procurement Act, Makati secured a multi-year 100% renewable energy supply contract covering over 150 city facilities at approximately 10 MW of combined renewable load which is projected to prevent 300,000 metric tons of GHG emissions and generate PHP 300 million in savings over nine years.
Mr. Brian M. Geli of the San Juan City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office presented San Juan's roadmap toward a more sustainable, resilient, and liveable city under its San Juan 2030 vision. He framed the city's energy transition around four compelling imperatives: energy security, energy affordability, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience, a priority set that resonates strongly for a highly urbanized city of only 5.94 square kilometers. The city has also earned a 92.6% rating from the DOE Energy Audit. On sustainable transportation, Mayor Francis Zamora has directed that all future city government vehicle purchases be hybrid or fully electric, and the city is advancing the San Juan E-Trike Tourism and Sustainable Mobility Ordinance of 2026 to incentivize the transition from gasoline-powered to electric tricycles. San Juan's story proved that you don't need a huge budget or lots of space to make progress on clean energy; you just need determined leaders, smart thinking, and the will to act on what's already doable.
Mr. Quintin Pastrana, President of WEnergy Power Pilipinas and Archipelago Renewables, closed the presentations by turning the audience's attention to the communities that the national grid has yet to fully reach. He presented WEnergy's pioneering work on hybrid microgrids — combining solar PV, lithium-ion battery storage, and diesel backup — as a proven, scalable model for delivering clean, reliable, and affordable electricity to off-grid and underserved areas. Their flagship project in Sabang, Palawan demonstrated transformative community impact: daily electricity access expanded from 0–8 hours to 8–24 hours, internet penetration rose from 28% to 96%, business registrations grew, crime rates fell, and education outcomes improved. WEnergy's consortium has since won contracts to develop 24 hybrid smart microgrid projects across Palawan, Cebu, and Quezon, set to energize over 11,500 households and empower 50,000 residents. He also highlighted RA 11646 or the Microgrid Systems Act as a critical enabler, opening up a PHP 430 billion market and investment opportunity to bring clean energy to the 2.5 million Filipino households still without reliable access.
The afternoon culminated in a panel discussion moderated by Liveable Cities Philippines Chairman Guillermo M. Luz, joined by all speakers and Mr. Miguel de Jesus, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of ACEN Philippines. The conversation wove together the day's key themes: the importance of strong policy enablers at the national level, the critical role of local government champions in driving implementation, the readiness of the private sector to partner and invest, and the urgent need to bridge the gap between cities that are already transitioning and those still waiting to begin. The panelists agreed that every delayed renewable energy project carries real costs — in higher electricity bills, in lost competitiveness, and in communities left behind.
The energy transition is not a distant goal; it is already happening, and the stories shared today are proof. From Makati's landmark achievement of 100% renewable energy, to Quezon City's expanding solar installations, to Globe's net zero commitments, to WEnergy's microgrids lighting up communities in Palawan, the message is clear: the tools, the technologies, the policies, and the partners are already within reach. What is needed now is for more cities to step forward, make the commitment, and build the collaborations that will turn ambition into action. The true measure of this transition will not be found in targets written on paper, but in the lower electricity bills, the brighter classrooms, the more resilient health centers, and the communities that finally have the reliable, affordable, and clean energy they deserve.
To view lab recording and materials: https://liveablecities.ph/past-labs/energy-transition-renewables-0
