The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Bangsamoro Government are advancing key measures to strengthen energy security and accelerate total electrification in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), including the development of petroleum and renewable energy resources, expansion of electricity access in remote communities, and phased devolution of energy functions to the region.
These initiatives support the direction set by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his 2026 State of the Nation Address to strengthen BARMM’s energy future and expand electricity access across the region.
Reporting on the government’s progress during a press conference on 11 August 2026, DOE Undersecretary Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo said the Department is working closely with BARMM’s Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE), particularly through the Intergovernmental Energy Board, to put in place the policies, regulatory frameworks, and institutional arrangements needed to accelerate energy development in the region.
“Our direction is clear: BARMM must not be left behind in the country’s energy development. We are working with MENRE to develop new energy resources and build the institutions and systems that can translate these resources into reliable, cleaner and accessible energy for Bangsamoro communities,” Usec Bacordo said.
On energy resource development, the DOE and MENRE are expediting the Joint Circular that will establish the co-management arrangements for newly awarded Petroleum Service Contracts 80 and 81 in the Sulu Sea, strengthening BARMM’s participation in the development of petroleum resources within the region.
The two governments are also moving toward the adoption of a regulatory framework that could support the exploration and development of native hydrogen in BARMM, opening another potential pathway for the region to develop its indigenous energy resources.
At the same time, the DOE is supporting BARMM in strengthening its framework for renewable energy development following the transition agreement signed in November 2024. This includes formalizing the turnover of renewable energy documents through a Data Sharing Agreement, developing joint guidelines for projects involving overlapping national and BARMM jurisdictions, and providing technical assistance to MENRE in crafting guidelines for hydropower, wind and biomass development.
These efforts will support the national target of increasing renewable energy’s share in the country’s power generation mix to 50 percent by 2040, while helping establish clearer rules for renewable energy investments and development within BARMM.
Alongside resource development, the DOE is pursuing the phased devolution of power and electrification functions and responsibilities to MENRE to strengthen BARMM’s institutional capacity to manage its energy sector.
The Department is also working with MENRE on the proposed BARMM Energy Code, which is envisioned to provide a comprehensive policy and regulatory foundation for the region’s long-term energy development. The strengthened institutional framework will also support one of the government’s most important objectives for the region: total electrification.
The DOE and MENRE are working toward a consolidated local total electrification roadmap to identify and address remaining electricity access gaps across BARMM, particularly in geographically isolated and off-grid communities. Electrification initiatives are also being pursued in areas such as the Turtle Islands, where geography and distance present significant challenges to conventional electricity service.
To provide a stronger policy framework for this effort, the DOE and MENRE will also work with the BARMM Parliament toward the enactment of a proposed Universal BARMM Electrification Act, aimed at supporting sustained electricity access across the region.
“Total electrification must mean reaching communities where providing electricity is most difficult. Our objective is both improving electrification figures and making sure that geography does not hinder Bangsamoro family to electricity access,” Usec Bacordo said.
Through these measures, the DOE and MENRE are strengthening BARMM’s ability to develop and manage its own energy potential while ensuring that energy development translates into reliable electricity, stronger energy security, and broader economic opportunities for Bangsamoro communities.
