CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Mansalay is being urged to take a potentially historic step toward cleaner and more affordable electricity as renewable-energy advocates push the municipality to become Mindoro’s first renewable energy town.
The proposal, however, is not yet a done deal.
REnew Mindoro and the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) are asking the Sangguniang Bayan of Mansalay to pass an ordinance formally declaring the municipality a renewable energy town. The measure is intended to make renewable energy part of local development planning and encourage investments in community-based clean-energy projects.
The push comes as Mindoro continues to grapple with high electricity costs, supply problems and heavy dependence on fossil-fuel generation.
Mindoro’s massive renewable energy potential
A major argument behind the proposal is the enormous renewable-energy potential identified across Mindoro.
The study “Pandang Gitab ng Mindoro”, presented by REnew Mindoro and CEED, estimates the island’s renewable-energy potential at roughly 35,000 megawatts (MW) — about 300 times its current electricity demand.
Yet the island remains heavily dependent on oil-based generation.
The study cited by the groups found that 73.17% of Mindoro’s energy capacity is oil-based, underscoring the island’s vulnerability to fuel costs and supply disruptions.
In Oriental Mindoro, renewable sources currently account for 23.56% of energy capacity from hydropower and 16.84% from wind, while oil accounts for 59.60%, according to the study.
The situation is even more oil-dependent in Occidental Mindoro, where the study puts the oil share at 91.02%, with solar accounting for only 5.62%.
Brownouts expose Mindoro’s energy vulnerability
The renewable-energy campaign is also gaining urgency because of Mindoro’s recent power-supply problems.
In May, REnew Mindoro called for a long-term renewable-energy roadmap after rotational brownouts affected Oriental Mindoro. The Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative reported dependable supply of only 56.5 MW against peak demand exceeding 75 MW recorded on May 11.
The shortage was linked to several factors, including reduced hydropower generation caused by low water levels, fuel-supply problems, delays involving independent power projects and transmission limitations.
For REnew Mindoro, the episode showed why Mindoro needs a more diversified energy system rather than relying heavily on a single source.
The group has argued for a combination of solar, wind and hydropower, particularly because solar generation can help provide additional electricity during hot and dry periods when hydropower output can decline.
What the Mansalay ordinance could mean
If approved, the proposed ordinance could make renewable energy a more deliberate part of Mansalay’s local development strategy.
Advocates say it could help attract renewable-energy investments, promote community-centered energy systems and improve access to electricity for off-grid, vulnerable and Indigenous communities.
The proposal is particularly significant for Mansalay because renewable-energy initiatives are already reaching some communities in the municipality.
A CEED study notes that several Hanunuo Mangyan villages in Mansalay have been solarized over the past decade, bringing clean electricity to communities that have faced energy-access challenges.
Mansalay has also previously benefited from solar-powered initiatives in education. In 2024, Panaytayan Elementary School received a solar-powered STARBOOKS kiosk, along with portable solar power stations, to improve access to science and technology resources.
The push goes beyond Mansalay
The campaign is not intended to stop with one municipality.
REnew Mindoro said it will continue engaging the Mansalay municipal council while seeking stronger partnerships among communities, renewable-energy developers and financiers.
The group also plans a renewable-energy caravan across Mindoro to promote what it describes as more affordable, reliable and clean electricity.
The Diocese of Calapan has also been involved in the broader clean-energy push. In April, seven parishes in Mindoro signed solar-energy contracts representing 200 kilowatt-peak of community-funded solar capacity, according to Radio Veritas Asia.
In May, REnew Mindoro separately called on the Oriental Mindoro provincial government to establish a concrete renewable-energy roadmap as the province dealt with continuing power shortages.
A potential turning point for Mindoro
The proposed Mansalay ordinance could therefore become more than a local environmental policy.
For advocates, it could serve as a model that other municipalities across Mindoro could follow — shifting the island away from expensive fossil-fuel dependence while expanding access to locally generated renewable electricity.
But the key question remains: Will Mansalay’s lawmakers approve the measure and turn the municipality’s renewable-energy potential into an actual local policy?
For now, the proposal remains under discussion, with REnew Mindoro continuing its engagement with the Sangguniang Bayan.
If Mansalay moves first, however, it could set a precedent for how the rest of Mindoro approaches one of its biggest challenges: how to turn abundant renewable resources into reliable, affordable power for its communities.
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