The University of Bohol Community Development Foundation, Inc. (UBCDFI) recently conducted an Energy Needs Assessment in several island barangays in the Municipality of Getafe, Bohol, as part of ongoing efforts to better understand energy access challenges in off-grid communities.
The assessment was carried out in the island barangays of Banacon, Jagoliao, Nasingin, and Pandanon, where community members shared insights about their current energy situation and the everyday challenges they face in accessing reliable electricity. The activity aimed to gather firsthand information that will help inform future renewable energy planning and interventions.
The study examines existing household and community energy sources, including their cost, reliability, and patterns of use. It also looks into how limited or lack of electricity affects key aspects of daily life, including livelihoods, education, health services, safety, and household activities.
Through surveys and community engagement activities, the assessment also seeks to identify priority energy needs among residents. These include energy for refrigeration and food storage, improved lighting and learning tools for students, and electricity for community facilities that support essential services.
Fieldwork was conducted by a pool of enumerators organized by UBCDFI. The team was warmly welcomed and supported by the Barangay Local Government Units of the four island communities, which played an important role in facilitating the activity at the local level.
The initiative also received strong support from the Municipal Local Government Unit of Getafe, under the leadership of Municipal Mayor Hon. Cary M. Camacho, reflecting the municipality’s commitment to improving energy access for its island barangays and advancing sustainable development.
Once the assessment is completed, the findings will be presented back to the participating communities to ensure transparency and enable residents and local leaders to use the results for informed local planning and decision-making.
The activity forms part of the Advancing Sustainable Provincial Investments for Renewable Energy (ASPIRE) Project, which aims to strengthen policies that enable renewable energy development, promote investments in decentralized and community-based energy systems, and help communities prepare to manage and benefit from clean and sustainable energy solutions in the future.
— BANGON, Inc.
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