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DOE, BARMM Advance Energy Self-Governance Through Landmark Transition Agreement
Date published: Jun 3 2026 11:30 AM
MEDIA RELEASE
03 June 2026
DOE, BARMM Advance Energy Self-Governance Through Landmark Transition Agreement
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) today took a major step toward regional energy self-governance through the signing of the Transition Agreement (TA) for Power and Electrification in BARMM and the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Energy Efficiency and Conservation.
Signed and presented by Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin and MENRE Minister Akmad A. Brahim, the agreements strengthen the Bangsamoro Government’s role in shaping the region’s energy future and support the continued implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law's provisions on energy governance and development.
Under the Transition Agreement, key powers, functions, and responsibilities of the DOE relating to the supervision, regulation, and development of the electric power industry within the BARMM by will be progressively transferred to MENRE. The transition will be implemented in phases to ensure continuity of service, institutional readiness, and effective coordination between the National Government and the Bangsamoro Government.
To support the transition, the DOE, through its Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB), will provide technical assistance, training, and capacity-building programs covering energy planning, project evaluation, transmission development, rural electrification, and regulatory oversight.
“This transition is about bringing energy governance closer to the communities it serves,” Secretary Garin said. “By strengthening the capacity of the Bangsamoro Government to lead its own power sector development, we can accelerate electrification, improve service delivery, and create greater opportunities for economic growth throughout the region.”
As part of its expanded responsibilities, MENRE will lead the preparation and implementation of the Bangsamoro Power Development Plan, oversee power sector initiatives within the region, support rural and missionary electrification programs, coordinate transmission development efforts, and represent BARMM in relevant national energy bodies. The framework ensures that regional priorities are reflected in energy planning while maintaining alignment with national policies, reliability standards, and environmental regulations.
The transition is expected to deliver tangible benefits to Bangsamoro communities by enabling more responsive and localized energy planning. Faster implementation of electrification initiatives, particularly in remote and underserved areas, will help address long-standing gaps in energy access and contribute to improved quality of life for households, businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities.
“Reliable electricity is more than a service, it is an enabler of opportunity,” Secretary Garin added. “When communities have access to stable and affordable power, children can study longer, businesses can grow, healthcare services can operate more effectively, and local economies can thrive.”
As of December 2025, approximately 1.1 million households in BARMM had access to electricity, representing an electrification rate of 67.52 percent. Through strengthened local leadership and continued collaboration with the National Government, the transition is expected to support the region’s efforts toward achieving universal energy access.
The agreement builds on earlier milestones in energy devolution. In November 2024, the DOE and MENRE signed a separate Transition Agreement on the implementation of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, paving the way for greater Bangsamoro participation in renewable energy development and investment promotion.
Alongside the Transition Agreement, the DOE and MENRE also formalized a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Energy Efficiency and Conservation. The agreement strengthens cooperation in implementing Republic Act No. 11285, or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, and supports the adoption of sustainable energy-use practices throughout the region.
Under the MOC, MENRE will gradually assume a larger role in implementing energy efficiency initiatives, including the Government Energy Management Program, compliance requirements for Designated Establishments, and the Philippine Energy Labeling Program. During the transition period, the DOE will continue to provide technical assistance, policy guidance, training, and institutional support.
“The DOE does not step back from this transition, we move forward together,” Secretary Garin said. “We remain fully committed to supporting the Bangsamoro Government as it strengthens its institutions and advances its vision for a more secure, reliable, and sustainable energy future.”
The signing ceremonies were witnessed by key officials from the Bangsamoro and National Government, including Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), DOE Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo, who acts as the Intergovernmental Energy Board Alternate Co-Chairperson for the National Government, Director General Mohajirin T. Ali of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority, DOE Director Luningning Baltazar, DOE Director Patrick T. Aquino, and MENRE Director General for Energy Nasiri B. Abas.
The agreements mark a significant milestone in the continuing partnership between the National Government and the Bangsamoro Government, laying the foundation for a more responsive, inclusive, and locally driven energy sector that will help power the region’s long-term development. ###