The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) is reinforcing its dedication to sustainable energy development through a recent capacity-building initiative. From January 27 to 31, engineers and planning officers from MENRE and partner agencies participated in a five-day training on Energy and Power Planning and Modeling at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Davao City. This training was followed by a two-day Writeshop on February 3-4, as part of ongoing efforts to develop the Bangsamoro Sustainable Energy Master Plan (BSEMP).
A total of 16 engineers and planning officers from MENRE’s Energy Management and Development Services (EMDS), the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA), and two local government units attended the training. The event was organized by the Center for Energy Environment Resources and Development Foundation (CEERD) and CSI Energy Solutions International (CSI), with support from the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership of the United Nations Office for Project Services (ETP UNOPS). Additionally, experts from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Power Industry Monitoring Bureau provided virtual inputs to enhance the learning experience.
MENRE’s Director General for Energy, Nasiri B. Abas, emphasized the ministry’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Bangsamoro’s energy sector. “This training is a vital step in our efforts to build a sustainable energy future for the Bangsamoro region. By equipping our engineers and planners with advanced modeling skills, we are laying the groundwork for effective and resilient energy policies,” Abas said.
A key component of the training was the hands-on application of the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) model, a widely recognized energy modeling tool developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute. Participants engaged in scenario-based energy planning exercises, which will play a crucial role in shaping the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s (BARMM) long-term energy strategies.
MENRE continues to lead energy policy development in BARMM, collaborating closely with various stakeholders to advance sustainable energy initiatives. The Bangsamoro Sustainable Energy Master Plan is scheduled for public consultations during the BARMM Energy Summit in November 2025, with its completion expected by December 2025.
Through ongoing training and strengthened partnerships, MENRE aims to ensure a sustainable, reliable, and resilient energy future for the Bangsamoro region.