Philanthropic group earmarks $2.6M for SE Asia’s energy transition
A philanthropic coalition has committed to spend $2.6 million to accelerate its efforts for a just and inclusive energy shift in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.
In a statement on Monday, the Just Energy Transition Community (JETC) said the funding would cover all its initiatives within its first year, focusing on the agriculture and fishery sector, workforce support, as well as the promotion of responsive energy deployment.
JETC, founded in 2025 by the Philanthropy Asia Alliance with founding organizations like Tara Climate Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies and others, seeks to ensure that the communities impacted by the energy transition are supported.
“Energy is one of the most consequential areas for philanthropic capital today. Access to clean, affordable energy shapes outcomes in food, health, jobs and community resilience across the region,” said Shaun Seow, CEO of Philanthropy Asia Alliance.
“When funders can align on what is at stake, we can direct capital where it is needed most, accelerating a transition that is faster and fairer for the communities facing today’s energy crisis,” added Jamie Choi, CEO of Tara Climate Foundation.
Farming communities
In the Philippines, JETC’s project involves the rollout of renewable energy systems for farming cooperatives and rural enterprises in the Mindanao region.
The group said this would cut Filipino farmers’ reliance on diesel, which has recorded massive increases since the war in the Middle East broke out on Feb. 28. The elevated prices prompted the Philippine government to release fuel subsidies for thousands of farmers and fisherfolk in April, ranging from P3,000 to P5,000 each.
Meanwhile, JETC said the initiative would also support their agricultural processing and could potentially entice larger-scale financing support.
The county has an ambitious target of increasing renewables’ share in the power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030. At present, its contribution is 25 percent.
Aside from the Philippines, JETC has ongoing projects in Indonesia, as well as in other parts of Southeast Asia, to provide cold chain facilities, cooling solutions and training support for young professionals.
