Affordable, sustainable energy is a basic human right

Dear Mr. Michael Lim Ubac,

I completely agree with all the points you raised in your article (see “‘Guerrilla’ solar installers in summer of discontent,” 5/7/26).

Thank you very much for writing that. Small energy providers are always frowned upon by the heavyweights in the energy sector who, as you correctly described, believe that they are the only guardians of the country’s energy security. There are still about 1.4 million households in Mindanao that do not have access to electricity. Most of these are found in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. that, for many decades, have been waiting for the grid to come in. That possibility is getting dimmer by the day in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

For investors, and even electricity distribution utilities, extending the lines to provide electricity to very poor communities is not financially attractive. Hence, poor folks are forced to find a way to improve the quality of their lives through solar power and micro-hydropower. We in Yamog Renewable Energy Development Group, Inc. are helping them do that.

Decentralization should be considered by the government as a viable strategy to address the energy crisis. It should be realized that, given the way the energy sector is designed, it would take years before they would finally reach the “unserved” areas.

But poor communities cannot wait anymore. Their initiatives to provide their own energy should be respected, appreciated, and supported rather than stymied by the usual “regulatory requirements” that favor only the profit-motivated big players. For us in Yamog, energy, that is clean, affordable, renewable, and sustainable, should be treated as a basic human right, not as a commodity that will be afforded only if there is certainty of attractive profit margins.

This is the mindset of our “guardians of energy security,” including the regulatory agencies, policy/law makers, and monopolistic energy providers. No wonder there are still many households in Mindanao that do not have access to electricity.

Aside from thanking you for dishing out that article, I want to ask how a group like us can have access to information regarding the Senate hearing that you mentioned? Who made the proposal to investigate the solar “guerrillas”? What is the official response of the Senate? What amendments to the Renewable Energy Act were made? What are the possible impacts of these changes on our solar home lighting projects in Mindanao, etc?

The information would help us greatly in navigating the increasingly complex and lopsided policy environment that governs the energy sector.

Thank you very much. More power to you!

Porferio R. Jabla Jr.,
Managing director, Yamog Renewable Energy Development Group, Inc.

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