Dear kabayan,

A decade ago, when I first learnt that energy firm Solar Philippines was set up by 20-year-old Leandro Leviste, I had my doubts about the venture. It wasn't just the founder's young age, but the renewables industry in the Philippines was then still at its nascent phase, and the solar sector was grappling with a lot of policy uncertainties. Probably just blind faith and idealism, I thought.

I have, however, been proven wrong. Leviste, also the son of senator and top environmentalist Loren Legarda, has built up his company over the years and it now supplies malls across the country with its small-scale solar panels. A latest report from a global energy think tank counts it as one of the leading pure play renewables firms in the Philippines, which are gaining an edge over companies that still have fossil fuels in their energy mix among investors.  

Observers are also increasingly optimistic about the prospects of the Philippines going from renewable laggard to leader in Southeast Asia. This is despite the dismal showing of its latest green energy auction.  

What do you think? Can the country meet its ambitious pledges to boost its clean energy portfolio? We will be considering this question at the Philippine edition of our flagship event Unlocking Capital for Sustainability 2023.  Register here for free to join us in Manila. See you there!

Tougher law to deter wildlife trafficking

Illegal wildlife trade has made a resurgence following the lifting of Covid-19 travel restrictions. In the Philippines this month, Congress passed a new bill to give more teeth to conservation efforts in the archipelago. Those in violation of the law faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 2 million pesos (US$35,000).  Some 50 billion pesos (US$880 million) in economic value is lost annually due to illicit wildlife trade in the country.

Protecting Verde Island Passage

A coalition of civic groups has renewed its call for an investigation into the environmental cost of the growing number of liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in biodiversity-rich Verde Island Passage (VIP), as they urge the environment secretary to halt eight gas plants in the pipeline. The plea comes as the marine corridor faces another potential oil spill threat: a fishing vessel sank off the coast of Batangas this late August.

Circular economy grant

At least ten Philippine local government units are set to receive circular economy grants under the European Union's Green Economy Programme. The grants, totalling 3.6 billion pesos (US$64 million), will be funnelled into developing the waste management infrastructure of the country's highly urbanised cities.