Philanthropic group to expand support for RE transition efforts in rural PHL

By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Senior Reporter

JUST ENERGY TRANSITION COMMUNITY (JETC), a regional philanthropic coalition promoting clean energy, said it is expanding its partnership with a Philippine non-profit to boost renewable energy (RE) access in the rural Philippines.

“In the Philippines, JETC is currently in active dialogue with the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), whose work is focused on expanding RE access for farming and agricultural cooperatives, as well as rural enterprises across Mindanao,” Jamie Choi, chief executive officer of Tara Climate Foundation, a founding group of the JETC, said in an e-mail.

JETC was convened in 2025 by Singapore-based Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA), alongside non-profit organizations like Tara Climate Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies, among others. 

At the Philanthropy Asia Summit in Singapore last week, hosted by the PAA, JETC announced a $2.6-million investment for a just and inclusive energy transition across Southeast Asia.

“This will cover clean-energy access across the region for farming and fishing communities, cooling solutions, workforce support, and responsible energy deployment, among others,” Ms. Choi said.

JETC has been working with the PEF to deploy RE technologies in the southern Philippines.

The JETC and PEF’s Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) initiative enabled a solar-powered coffee-processing facility in Bukidnon.

Both groups are looking to expand the PURE initiative across Mindanao, according to Ms. Choi.

“JETC’s current discussions with the Peace and Equity Foundation are focused on the ongoing Bukidnon pilot, which has been supported by Tara Climate Foundation, and the potential to expand this model to support more cooperatives across Mindanao,” she said.

Cauchie C. Garcia, PEF deputy executive director, said the Philippine clean energy transition is challenged by access and affordability issues.

“Energy access and affordability remain uneven, particularly in rural and agricultural areas where many communities still experience unreliable electricity, high energy costs, or dependence on diesel-based systems,” she said in an e-mail.

The upfront cost of RE technology makes it unaffordable for rural enterprises and electric cooperatives, Ms. Garcia said.

She added that the country’s energy transition push has focused on reaching targets than ensuring inclusive adoption.

“Energy transition discussions are often framed primarily around power generation targets, rather than around livelihoods and local economic development,” Ms. Garcia noted.

RE accounted for 25% of the Philippines’ power mix at the end of 2025.

The Department of Energy (DoE) aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the power generation mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

RE infrastructure should also align with the locality’s value chains, she added.

“Without linking renewable energy investments to productive uses, there is a risk that the benefits of transition will remain concentrated in larger urban or commercial markets,” Ms. Garcia said.

The Philippines, a net importer of oil, faces an ongoing energy crisis, as price and supply volatility linked to the Iran crisis continue to strain the power sector.

Ms. Choi also expects an increase in philanthropic funding for clean energy transitions, especially as more RE solutions enter the market.

She cited the Philippines’ community solar microgrids, agrisolar cooperatives in South Korea, and clean cold chain infrastructure in Indonesia

“Against the backdrop of a global energy crisis unfolding right now, funders are seeing these connections with greater clarity,” Ms. Choi said.