The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the South Korea-based Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) have stepped up efforts to accelerate the development of renewable energy in the Philippines through two innovative initiatives on floating solar and carbon-neutral railways.
The projects include Advancing Renewable Energy Through Floating Solar Photovoltaics (FPV) and Towards Carbon-Neutral Rails: Enhancing Environmental Sustainability of the Philippines National Railways, funded through the Korea Green New Deal Trust Fund (KGNDF) of the Korean government.
The CCC said the recent groundbreaking formed part of the country’s strategy toward a climate-resilient and sustainable future.
Working in close collaboration with the CCC, GGGI is supporting climate mainstreaming, stakeholder coordination and capacity-building for international carbon trading under the Paris Agreement.
The CCC plays a central role in ensuring these projects align with national climate goals by working with key agencies such as the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOTr) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
Over recent weeks, the CCC and GGGI have taken steps to move the projects through a series of high-level meetings and field activities.
On April 29, the “Renewable Energy Integration and Climate Governance” forum brought together key stakeholders from national government agencies to discuss strategies for renewable energy deployment and climate governance. The following day, a coordination meeting at the CCC’s Commissioners’ Room to finalize implementation plans and financing frameworks.
On June 5, GGGI and CCC met with a NIAengineer to explore the feasibility of floating solar installations on national irrigation facilities. This was followed by an on-site assessment at Bustos Dam in Bulacan on June 10, where technical teams from GGGI, CCC and NIA conducted field evaluations, with the support of NIA Region 3 officials.CCC News, PNA
The same day, courtesy visits were made to local government units in Bustos and San Rafael, Bulacan, successfully gaining support from community leaders. A meeting with DOE’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau explored fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for renewable energy developers, reinforcing DOE’s strong support for the project.
GGGI also met with Philippine National Railways (PNR) chairperson Michael Ted Macapagal and DOTr Assistant Secretary Michelle De Vera to advance the shift toward carbon-neutral rail transport.
A strategic planning session at the CCC in June, led by Commissioner Albert Dela Cruz, reaffirmed the institutional commitment to ensuring the success of both projects.
GGGI is providing full technical support, including landscape analyses, stakeholder consultations, pre-feasibility studies, financial modeling, and capacity-building activities.
CCC News, PNA
These efforts aim to build a robust foundation for renewable energy integration and support the Philippines’ global climate leadership.
“We are immensely grateful for the CCC’s exceptional leadership and the proactive collaboration of our national and local stakeholders,” said Kyung Nam Shin of GGGI. “These projects represent a monumental leap toward a climate-smart Philippines, perfectly aligned with our shared global sustainability goals.”
Dela Cruz said the “vital partnership” with GGGI strengthens the commission’s commitment to mainstreaming climate action across all sectors.
“It ensures that these transformative renewable energy projects will contribute directly to a resilient and sustainable future for every Filipino,” he added.
The CCC continues to work in partnership with the private sector, local governments, and development partners to build a greener, safer, and more resilient Philippines. CCC News, PNA