Faith-based and pro-environment organizations in the Philippines on July 16 launched the ambitious ’10 Million Solar Rooftops Challenge,’ aimed at promoting the use of renewable energy in Filipino households.

“No one should ignore it when there is an opportunity to empower Filipinos in uplifting themselves from the economic burdens of high electricity rates while helping address today’s ecological crisis,” said Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, vice president of Caritas Philippines. 

The initiative, launched at the “Summit for Clean and Affordable Renewable Energy” in Quezon City, tackles energy self-sufficiency amid rising electricity costs by expanding the use of distributed renewable energy.

The project encourages businesses, governmental bodies, educational institutions, churches, and individuals across the country to participate in establishing ten million solar-powered rooftops.

Spearheaded by a national consortium of organizations, the campaign seeks to harness approximately 10 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy, potentially supplying over one-third of the current total energy capacity in the Philippines.

“The Philippines has an abundant potential for renewable energy, as much as 91 GW of which comes from solar rooftops alone,” said Avril De Torres, Deputy Executive Director of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED).

De Torres noted that numerous communities and organizations are actively working to harness solar energy to reduce their electricity costs and lessen their reliance on more expensive fossil fuel-based power generation.

“This Challenge places a spotlight on these citizen actions while seeking our national authorities’ urgent response to the hope of Filipinos for more affordable and reliable electricity,” she added. 

The timing of the campaign coincided with a significant rate hike announcement by the Manila Electric Company, citing increased costs due to fossil fuel prices and market dynamics, which will impact consumers significantly.

“Our dependence on coal and gas to this date weighs heavily both on the pockets of consumers and on the ailing health of our environment and climate,” said Bishop Alminaza. 

In a statement, Caritas Philippines announced that the campaign received substantial support from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and the 41st National Social Action General Assembly (NASAGA). This backing underscores the Church’s dedication to environmental stewardship.

“Caritas Philippines believes this initiative is a crucial step towards achieving the goals of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, which calls for swift and unified action to protect our planet,” the statement read. 

During the 41st National Social Action General Assembly (NASAGA) held in Iloilo City in June, social action ministries from across the country passed a resolution highlighting the urgent need to transition to renewable energy. 

This move is aimed at mitigating climate change and underscores the importance of collective action.

Caritas Philippines urged all dioceses “to lead the way in embracing renewable energy, while also engaging more of the Philippine government to enact and enforce a supportive energy policy landscape.”

Senator Loren Legarda, a supporter of renewable energy and co-author of the Renewable Energy Law of 2008, said the campaign is a crucial step “in our nation’s pursuit of energy independence, environmental stewardship, and economic resilience.” 

The national consortium comprises various civil society organizations, including Caritas Philippines, the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), Power for People Coalition (P4P), Reboot Philippines, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), Ateneo de Davao University – CREATE, Agropolis USTP, Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST), Quezon for Environment, Mindanao Renewable Energy R&D Center (MREC), WWF-Philippines, Konsyumer, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), ICLEI Southeast Asia, Youth for Climate Hope, SAVE PH, and many others.