Senator Marcoleta pushes mandatory solar use in government offices

Senator Rodante Marcoleta is urging the government to fast-track the country’s shift to renewable energy, proposing the mandatory use of solar and other clean technologies in public offices amid growing global oil instability and its impact on electricity prices.

Speaking during the Senate Committee on Energy hearing on April 30, Marcoleta explained that renewable energy adoption in the private sector is no longer enough if government institutions continue to rely on fossil fuels.

He stressed that the government should lead by example by requiring the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and other renewable energy technologies in public buildings. According to him, this would signal a strong commitment to sustainability, efficiency, and energy security.

“At present, our responsibility is becoming even more important due to the worsening global oil crisis, which is directly linked to electricity costs. Amid intensifying geopolitical tensions and the weakening of traditional supply coordination mechanisms, the world is entering a period of long-term uncertainty and fluctuating energy pressures,” said Marcoleta in mixed English and Filipino.

“For a country like the Philippines which depends heavily on imported oil, every disruption in the global supply chain immediately results in higher electricity bills, rising inflation, and a heavier burden on the people,” he added.

Marcoleta emphasized the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy, warning that delays could leave the country vulnerable to external shocks.

“This is no longer an alternative; it is a necessity that should have been established and benefitted us long ago," he said.