COTABATO CITY – To arrive at well-consolidated data and policies that will serve as the direction in formulating the 1st Bangsamoro Energy Development Plan (BEDP), the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) – BARMM, through the Energy Management and Development Services (EMDS), held a 5-day activity on Data Analysis and Writeshop for Energy Plan on August 1-5, 2022.

The participants were from the five (5) Provincial ENRE Offices and took part in a series of writeshops in crafting the plan based on their respective contexts.

In his rationale, Senior Science Research Specialist (SSRS) Engr. Datu Shariff Pagayao mentioned that one of the Enhanced 12-Point Priority Agenda of the BARMM is energy security, which will focus on the development of energy resources and improvement of power generation and distribution that will spur the progress of industries and, as such, would ultimately generate jobs and other economic opportunities.

“The EMDS-MENRE exerts its utmost effort to come up with programs, projects, and activities so that the BARMM will eventually achieve this priority agenda, and one of the activities identified is the conduct of this data analysis and energy plan writeshop,” said EMDS Director Nasiri B. Abas.

EMDS Director Nasiri B. Abas introduced to the participants the legal basis of the existence of the Energy Services. The Introduction to Development Planning and updates on the Energy Plan, as well as writeshops on Sectoral Goals and Development Goals and Indicators, were facilitated by Chief Energy Regulation Officer (CERO) Engr. Al-Montazer S. Mandong. Engr. Zuhaidin Engga presented the status of the electric power industry. A lecture on the oil and gas industry was presented by Engr. Yusof Ali. Engr. Eduardo Longakit presented the updates on the renewable energy sector.

“This activity is very important in achieving sustainable energy development because we can come up with short-term and long-term energy plans towards a well-defined energy vision for the Bangsamoro,” said Chief ERO Engr. Al-Montazer S. Mandong.

Minister Akmad A. Brahim graced the event and said in his closing remarks that “Developing the Energy Plan is a must to clearly guide the Bangsamoro Government in its strategic direction toward energy security.” He commended the EMDS for working hand in hand with the different stakeholders in the pursuit of energy security in the BARMM.

This activity is the first leg of the three writeshops for the formulation of the 1st BEDP to be conducted by the EMDS and will include other employees of MENRE from the Regional Office and the five (5) Provincial ENRE Offices.