DOE, 5 Eastern Visayas LGUs Team Up to Lower Power Bills

Posted on August 13, 2026 at 11:32 am

Tacloban City — Five local governments in Eastern Visayas have signed an agreement with the Department of Energy to join a program that uses solar power and energy-saving measures to reduce electricity costs in government buildings.

The provinces of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, and Southern Leyte, along with Tacloban City, signed the agreement on August 11 for the Solar Solutions for Government – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Public Buildings (SSG-ERPB) program.

DOE Undersecretary Mario Marasigan led the signing during a ceremony at the Summit Hotel in Tacloban City.

The program will start with a 20-kilowatt solar power system that will serve as a pilot project.

DOE technical teams will also inspect selected government buildings to check how electricity is being used and identify measures that could lower consumption.

These may include rooftop solar panels, building retrofits and other energy-saving equipment.

Marasigan said the DOE will provide technical assistance to the participating local governments based on their needs.

“This is a demonstration project with the local governments. We will install a 20-kilowatt solar power system as a pilot project,” he said.

The program supports the government’s goal of saving at least 10 percent of the energy used in government operations.

For local governments, lower electricity use could also mean lower monthly power bills.

The DOE said money saved from electricity expenses could instead be used for other local government priorities, including healthcare, education, disaster preparedness and social welfare.

Eastern Samar Gov. Ralph Vincent Evardone welcomed the program, saying power problems in the region have affected government services.

“We all experience power shortages in the region that hamper government services,” Evardone said.

He said the DOE’s assistance would help the province explore more ways to use renewable energy.

The five LGUs will implement energy-saving measures in public facilities as part of the agreement.

The pilot project will also give them a chance to see how much electricity a solar system can actually provide and how much it can reduce their power expenses.

That figure will matter when local governments consider expanding solar installations to more buildings.

For now, the DOE is starting with five LGUs.

If the pilot projects show significant savings, more government offices in Eastern Visayas could eventually make the shift to solar power.

(Photo caption: GOING GREEN. The Leyte Provincial Government Complex marks a step toward cleaner energy with the inauguration of its Hybrid Solar Power System. The project is part of the province’s effort to use renewable energy and build a cleaner future for the next generation.)

Photo courtesy: PLGU Leyte