The Center for Empowerment, iNnovation and Training on Renewable Energy or CentRE/Cent-RE is a non-profit multi-stakeholder association composed of energy industry players like RE developers and electric cooperatives, NGOs, academe, youth and labor organizations, and some individuals. It envisions an inclusive and sustainable society where people and communities live in dignity, control their energy future, and enjoy access to reliable, affordable and clean energy attained through an energy transition that is just and democratic.

The CentRE conducts or initiates activities like capacity-building and knowledge sharing, piloting, policy dialogues and advocacy, awareness-raising, and partnership-building activities on renewable energy towards realization of its vision of 100% RE in the Philippines.  

In line with this vision, the CentRE, embarked on an initiative in 2021, in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Philippines, and in collaboration with CentRE members and local partners - Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF), Association of Isolated Electric Cooperatives, Center for Power Issues and Initiatives, Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, Rural Women's Congress (PKKK), Romblon Electric Cooperative, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Kaabag sa Sugbu, Lingap sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan (LIKAS, Irosin), WeGen Distributed Energy, and One Renewable Energy Enterprises, Inc. (OREEI).

The initiative provides a venue and facilitates exchanges among women where they can share their stories about their energy situation, how they are affected by and deal with it, and what are their solutions or recommendations to address their energy concerns.

This initiative is called Women in Inclusive and Sustainable Energy (WISE) and Just Transition: A Dialogue Series on Women, Inclusive and Sustainable Energy, and Just Transition. 

The WISE Initiative aims to: a) document the situation and recommendations of women v.v. energy access and RE deployment; b) engage policy makers towards adopting more gender equal/inclusive energy policies and programs; and c) bring forth a network or pool of women who will advocate for gender-responsive, inclusive and sustainable energy and just energy transition.

Context

Energy access remains one of the major concerns in the Philippines, especially among women and girls who account for half of the country’s 110 million population with majority living in rural areas. Based on 2021 government data, 1.66 million households are without electricity access, 1.5 million of them are in rural communities within the franchise areas of rural electric cooperatives.[1]

While many women have access to electricity from the grid (largely sourced from coal power and natural gas), they experience intermittent power supply due to weather disturbances or technical issues. Weekly or daily brownouts of 4-to-8 hours still occur in rural areas, while densely populated urban centers like Metro Manila and Cebu seldom have power interruptions, for 2 to 3-hours if any. In island communities like in Visayas, electricity is enjoyed for 4 to 6 hours a day, often at night. To cope with the lack of electricity either due to unavailable or insufficient supply, or unaffordable rates, households or individuals use instead energy that are hazardous to health and the environment such as diesel for generator sets, kerosene or candles for lighting, and wood and charcoal for cooking. Electricity cost in the rural areas (about 5% to 10% of a household budget) is almost twice the electricity rates in Metro Manila (about 20% of the minimum monthly income).

Since the country continues to be patriarchal especially in rural areas, most of the household or care work are left to women who therefore suffer more when there is no electricity. Aside from care work, most of the women are engaged in call centers, service and academic sectors, cottage industries and in informal economy including home-based entrepreneurship like online selling, as well as in farming and fishing. For them, energy poverty also results in time poverty which deprive them of some time for their personal growth, thus contributing to their economic poverty. 

Access to sufficient and affordable electricity could help women achieve their potentials, and improve their and their family’s quality of life. The Energy International Agency (EIA) defines energy access as "a household having reliable and affordable access to both clean cooking facilities and to electricity, which is enough to supply a basic bundle of energy services initially, and then an increasing level of electricity over time to reach the regional average." This indicates energy access is not just having the energy or power infrastructures, but also that energy is available, sufficient, affordable, and can be delivered to consumers when needed.

Sadly, majority of women continue to have lesser voice, opportunities, as well as lower pay or income.  They are generally not involved in discussions or projects on energy or renewable energy. Their perspectives are less heard or reflected, if at all, in the government’s energy policies and programs. This, despite women having the potential to contribute in their respective community’s or the nation’s overall social and economic development. However, they need to be given opportunities to learn more, and be heard or involved in community or public discussions/ decision-making processes. Capacitating them can increase their confidence to speak up and take active role in the planning and implementation of policies or programs including on energy.

Women in Inclusive and Sustainable Energy (WISE) and Just transition

Brief history 

In June 2021, the CentRE, in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Philippines, initiated the Women on Inclusive and Sustainable Energy (WISE) and Just transition-  A Dialogue Series on Women, Inclusive and Sustainable Energy, and Just Transition. The initial activities were conducted in collaboration with CentRE members and other FES partners who comprise the working group — Active Citizenship Foundation (ACF), Association of Isolated Electric Cooperatives, Center for Power Issues and Initiatives, Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, Romblon Electric Cooperative, Kaabag sa Sugbu (Cebu), and Lingap sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan (LIKAS, Irosin).

The WISE initiative provides a venue, and facilitates exchanges among women where they can share stories about their energy situation, how they are affected and deal with it, and what are their solutions or recommendations to address such concerns. It involves Focused group discussions, forums, dialogues with policy-makers, and media briefings, and network-building.

The project aims to:

a) Document the situation and recommendations of women v.v. energy access and RE deployment;

b) Engage policy makers towards adopting more gender equal/inclusive energy policies and programs;  and

c) Bring together women who will advocate for gender-responsive, inclusive and sustainable energy

  and just energy transition.

WISE and Just Transition 2022

“Where are the women’s energy or renewable energy (RE) agenda in the energy policies and programs?” This is a question that the WISE project wants addressed especially by the nation’s newly installed leaders.

This year, the project shall therefore continue the dialogues among women, provide them a venue to come together, facilitate the formation of women RE and Just Transition advocates, and present the women’s RE agenda to the policy-makers, especially our women legislative and executive officials. 

Target activities and outputs include focused group discussions (FGDs), survey, research, and policy dialogue/forum.

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[1] https://business.inquirer.net/315918/93-of-filipino-homes-now-have-access-to-electricity

Legislators and their Congressional Committeee meberships relevant to the promotion of women's energy rights

Senator Risa Hontiveros - Chair of Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality . Member of Joint Congressional Energy Commission

Rep. Mercedes  K.Alvarez - District Representative, Negros Occidental 6th District. Member of Lower House Committees on Energy, and on Women and Gender Equality

Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong, District Representative, Negros Oriental 1st District. Vice-Chairperson of Lower House Committees on Cliate Change, and on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development. Member of Committee on Women and Gender Equality.