Bohol opens doors to green projects

ECOTOURISM SPOT Tourists enjoy the white sand beach of Virgin Island in Panglao, Bohol, in this photo taken in August 2022. Bohol, known for its pristine environment and ecotourism destinations, is the Philippines’ first global geopark recognized by the United Nations’ cultural agency for its unique geological heritage. —LEO UDTOHAN

TAGBILARAN CITY — Bohol officials are hoping that a new ordinance declaring the province as an environment-friendly locality will pave the way for more investments in clean energy.

According to Board Member Jamie Aumentado Villamor, author of Ordinance No. 005-2023, the local law approved on Dec. 7 provides incentives to new renewable energy projects, including exemption from payment of real property taxes for up to five years of operation.

“A clean, healthy and sustainable environment ushers our beloved province of Bohol to progress in the right direction,” said Villamor.

Projects that applied for incentives, she said, will benefit starting the next calendar year after the issuance of their certificate of registration from the Bohol Investment Board.

With the new ordinance, projects involving biomass, geothermal, hydropower, and run-of-river hydro and ocean energy for power generation are qualified to receive the incentives.

The ordinance prioritizes managing land use, ecocultural tourism, infrastructure, solid waste and disaster risk reduction; biodiversity conservation; sustainable agriculture; air, water, land and noise pollution control; and climate change adaptation.

Villamor said the policy would oblige the provincial government to promote the development and utilization of indigenous renewable energy resources “through local government-driven, inter-agency, and multisectoral natural resources management policies on exploration, development and supply, power generation, transmission, or distribution projects.”

‘Indispensable tool’

“The Renewable Energy Code of Bohol serves as a vital and indispensable tool to build a clean energy future for our province that totally eradicates, if not mitigates, the harmful contents of gas and air pollutants which threaten our economy, security, health, culture, and environmental heritage,” she said.

The province, Villamor said, has the responsibility to safeguard the environment and secure a sustainable future.

The ordinance also mandates the establishment of a Bohol Renewable Energy Board (BREB), which has the power to review, examine, and endorse renewable energy development in the province.

The BREB will be chaired by Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, with representatives from the Department of Energy and other government agencies as members.

The ordinance, Villamor said, will benefit Boholanos as this will address high electricity rates in the province.

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