Mindanao's solar revolution isn't waiting for permission anymore. It's already on the move, one panel at a time.

The last time I went to Mindanao was when I went to see the shrimp solar farm in General Santos City. Back then, solar energy seemed to be a quiet part of business strategy. Promising, but nothing revolutionary.

- By DAWN SOLANO

This time, I found myself in Cagayan De Oro (CDO), where the rage is ten times louder. Here, it is no longer in its experimental phase. From homes, farms, and to major establishments, CDO is slowly shifting from fossil fuel to renewable energy due to unreliable grid power and rising costs of electricity.

As of today, Mindanao remains as the least-electrified of the country's three main island groups.

Based on data from the Department of Energy's annual reports in 2022 and 2023, Luzon maintains an electrification rate of 97 to 99 percent, while the Visayas follows closely behind at 92 to 97 percent.

In contrast, Mindanao's household electrification rate lags significantly, ranging from 80 to 86 percent according to assessments published by the National Electrification Administration between 2022 and late 2023.

In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, access drops even further. A July 2023 update from NEA revealed that only 40 to 45 percent of households in the region were connected to the grid.

"When it comes to energy infrastructure development, Mindanao has been marginalized in the last half century," Mindanao Goes Solar movement president Philline Marie Donggay told PhilSTAR Tech.

Donggay's organization held a three-day solar expo from June 5 to June 7, which I was invited to witness along with other media.

"Only coal power has been offered by developers for the most part, which is a dirty and expensive energy source," she said.

The leader of this movement shared that their organization connects potential solar customers with trusted solar service suppliers through solar expos and solar exhibits. Online, they rally awareness campaigns like 'Solar Suroy,' 'The Solar Week' broadcasts and more.