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In Concepcion, Iloilo, Barangay Botlog, a remote island, is now experiencing electricity for the first time, thanks to a small-scale wind turbine. Inaugurated by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Western Visayas on December 19, the turbine immediately improved public lighting, essential services, and everyday activities for residents who had long lived without access to the main electricity grid.
Researchers and engineers developed the turbine from Central Philippine University (CPU) and Northern Iloilo State University (NISU). CPU engineer Kleio Alfric Tobias explained that it powers eleven coastal lights and supports essential community functions, including a daycare center and a charging station at the Barangay Hall. The turbine transforms wind into a reliable source of clean energy, powering the community’s critical needs.
The project, funded by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), was the result of collaboration between government agencies, universities, and local government units.
Concepcion Mayor Milliard Villanueva expressed gratitude for the initiative. “Enhanced access to electricity is expected to improve the island’s educational outcomes due to better study conditions, and improve residents’ daily life,” he stated.
The wind project also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 7, which emphasizes the provision of economical, reliable, sustainable, and up-to-date energy.
(Also read: Iloilo Shines as a Renewable Energy Trailblazer)
Project DAGAT: A Future-Ready Model
Barangay Botlog is also part of DOST’s Project DAGAT (Driving Advancement, Generating Access, and Transforming Small Island Communities), which focuses on delivering technical solutions to boost disaster resiliency and energy independence for island communities.
DOST Western Visayas Regional Director Rowen Gelonga explained that each selected island receives tailored technology interventions. “For every island community, we pilot different technologies. In Barangay Botlog, we piloted the vertical axis wind turbine,” she said. “We harness the wind energy to provide electricity to the community.”
The wind turbine, with a capacity of one kilowatt, can light more than 200 bulbs. An auxiliary solar panel system ensures an energy supply even during periods of weak wind. Additionally, an automated weather station has been installed, and residents have been trained on disaster risk reduction and weather monitoring, helping the community become more resilient.
Similar projects are underway in Unisan Island in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, and Mararison Island in Culasi, Antique. In Unisan, efforts focus on water desalination, while Mararison emphasizes disaster preparedness through automated weather monitoring and community training on evacuation, first aid, and emergency response. These pilot initiatives allow DOST to collect data and improve wind turbine designs for wider replication across the Philippines.
(Also read: NGCP Takes Charge: Stabilizing Aklan’s Power Transmission)
Iloilo’s Broader Renewable Energy Ambitions
Beyond off-grid islands, Iloilo province is positioning itself as a renewable energy leader in the Philippines. The province has introduced a series of ordinances, strategic plans, and funding mechanisms to expand its renewable portfolio.
Romil Hernandez, director of the Energy Policy Team at the Institute of Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), highlighted that the energy transition encompasses more than technological innovation. “Our energy transition agenda is based on the belief that moving towards renewable energy is not just a technical or technological shift; it is a societal transformation,” he said. “We want to change the narrative that we should no longer rely on fossil fuels or traditional power plants.”
Iloilo has already implemented programs such as the Iloilo Provincial Ordinance on Renewable Energy (IPOR), which dedicates 1% of the provincial budget for renewable energy projects. Initiatives like the I-SHARE program earmark 5% of the Special Education Fund to support renewable energy in schools, while local ordinances streamline permitting processes for energy infrastructure development.
Department of Energy (DOE)-identified projects include the 175.29 megawatt (MW) Barotac Viejo Solar Power Project, the 990 MW East Panay Offshore Wind Power Project, and a 23 MW biomass facility in Passi City, demonstrating the province’s commitment to building a sustainable and future-ready energy ecosystem.
Rey Victor Garin, OIC-head of the Energy & EEC Conservation Desk for Iloilo, highlighted the logistical approach adopted by the province. “As a province, we adopt a logistical approach, implementing plans, ordinances, and programs, along with the necessary physical infrastructure and manpower allocation for renewable energy projects,” he said.
The province’s efforts have been recognized nationally, bagging the first-ever Sustainable Energy Award from the DOE’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau.
Sources:
https://www.panaynews.net/wind-power-lights-up-off-grid-island
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1265770
https://www.panaynews.net/iloilo-powers-up-drive-for-renewables-with-local-laws-big-ticket-projects