The city government has secured a PHP25 million grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) to install solar energy systems in public buildings as part of efforts to improve energy efficiency in Western Visayas.

General Services Office head Neil Ravena, who also serves as the city’s energy conservation officer, said Tuesday the grant is part of the DOE’s Solar Solutions for Government: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for Public Buildings Program (SSG-ERPB).

Ravena said the initiative is timely as Western Visayas continues to face power supply challenges due to its location at the tail-end of the grid supplied by Eastern and Central Visayas.

The city is awaiting the DOE guidelines before submitting its project proposal, Ravena said.

He added that the city initially identified facilities with high energy consumption as possible sites for solar installations, including schools and the Iloilo City Action and Resilience Center.

Several schools and street lights in the city are already powered by solar energy. Ravena said Mayor Raisa Treñas has also proposed expanding solar installations to other city-owned facilities.

Last week, Treñas joined Western Visayas officials during the signing of a memorandum of agreement with Energy Secretary Sharon Garin for the SSG-ERPB program and the launch of the O.N.E. (Oras Natin sa Efficiency) campaign in the Visayas.

She said renewable energy is no longer just an environmental goal but “a practical investment in resilience, fiscal responsibility, and better public service.”

“By investing in renewable energy today, we are creating long-term savings, strengthening energy security, and building a city that is more resilient to the challenges of tomorrow,” Treñas said. (PNA)