Bongbong Marcos orders creation of policy, framework for offshore wind development

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presides during a sectoral meeting in Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.(KJ ROSALES/PPA POOL)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the creation of the administrative framework and policy for offshore wind (OSW) development.

This was enclosed in Executive Order No. 21, which was signed by Marcos on Wednesday, April 19.

In the order, Marcos noted that OSW resources, “if optimally developed,” would play a “major” role in the country’s goal for a low-carbon future, improved energy security, and reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels.

This is why, he said, there is a need to adopt a whole-of-government approach by streamlining and expediting the approval process by the permitting agencies for the issuance of permits, licenses, and clearances for OSW resource projects and eliminating unnecessary delays in every stage of such a project.

The EO stated that the Philippine Offshore Wind Roadmap has identified a total technical potential capacity of 178 gigawatts that can be harnessed from offshore wind resources.

Marcos earlier approved the concept of having an offshore wind one-stop shop via the EO due to the renewable energy source’s nascent nature.

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