Photo courtesy of The CENTRE Philippines
Iloilo City – The Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI) joined the 8th Renewable Energy Congress and Exhibit (RE Congress 2025) held on December 11 to 12 at the Iloilo Convention Center, contributing its experience in impact finance and social enterprise development to national discussions on advancing a just energy transition. The two-day congress gathered policymakers, regulators, financiers, local governments, civil society, and renewable energy practitioners under the theme “Renewables, Reliability, Resilience, Resource Efficiency, and Responsibility to Accelerate Just Energy Transition,” as the country confronts continued dependence on imported fossil fuels and persistent energy access challenges.
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FSSI took an active role in the Congress through the presentation “Financing Distributed and Community Energy Systems: Innovations and Partnerships,” delivered by FSSI Assistant Project Manager, Lito Ignacio Villar, during the Day 2 panel on accessible and inclusive renewable energy investments. Villar highlighted how distributed and community-based energy systems offer practical solutions for rural, island, and underserved communities that continue to experience frequent power interruptions and limited grid access. He discussed the realities on the ground, including high upfront costs, strict collateral requirements, regulatory hurdles, and uneven technical capacity, which continue to slow community energy adoption despite strong interest in small-scale solar solutions.
Drawing from FSSI’s field experience, Villar presented the organization’s triple bottom line approach that integrates social impact, environmental sustainability, and financial viability in renewable energy financing. He shared insights from communities and small solar energy enterprises showing a preference for modest-capacity solar systems that remain financially inaccessible without tailored loan products. In response, FSSI has developed solar financing options for cooperatives, social enterprises, and community organizations, complemented by capacity building, technical validation, and partnerships with local installers and support institutions across the Visayas and Mindanao.
FSSI emphasized the importance of building a supportive ecosystem for distributed energy that links local governments, financiers, community organizations, and technical experts. Villar called on local government units to streamline permitting processes, encouraged financial institutions to expand support for small and emerging solar enterprises, and urged policymakers and donors to strengthen incentives and de-risking mechanisms for community-based renewable energy projects. He stressed that community energy systems are not only about electricity generation but also about strengthening local resilience, promoting energy democracy, and ensuring that the benefits of the energy transition reach communities most in need.
FSSI reaffirms its commitment to advancing inclusive and locally grounded renewable energy solutions. As Iloilo and the wider Panay region continue to demonstrate leadership in climate and energy initiatives, the Congress provided a timely platform for FSSI to share lessons, build partnerships, and help shape financing pathways toward a clean, secure, and equitable energy future for the Philippines.
