By CESAR JOLITO III
The Toboso municipal government is intensifying its shift to renewable energy as part of a broader strategy to improve power access, reduce electricity costs and support sustainable development.
Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco announced that key public facilities — the municipal hall, public market and town plaza — are now powered by solar energy systems with a combined capacity of up to 100 kilowatts.
The town has also rolled out six-kilowatt solar-powered lighting systems to six initial beneficiary barangays, with plans to extend the program to all barangays in Toboso.
Beyond solar installations, the local government is moving to strengthen electricity supply in the remote Sitios Vergara and Magtuod through upgrades to the VEMADECO Mini-Hydro Power Plant.
Jaojoco said the town has committed P2.8 million for the enhancement of the facility, which has been providing renewable electricity to the two sitios since 2008.
To ensure efficient use of funds, the municipal government engaged the University of St. La Salle to conduct a technical study and develop a detailed implementation plan for the project.
Jaojoco said an earlier P1 million allocation was held in abeyance until a comprehensive plan was completed.
The P2.8 million funding was sourced from Toboso’s P14 million budget surplus and was not included in the municipality’s 2026 annual budget, the mayor added.
At the provincial level, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson expressed support for expanding VEMADECO’s renewable power distribution to other communities in Toboso, underscoring the importance of pairing energy access with conservation measures.
“This approach moves beyond simply supplying electricity and empowers communities to become active partners in energy sustainability,” Lacson said, emphasizing efficiency, resilience and shared accountability.
The Toboso initiative aligns with the province’s SecuRE NEGROS program, which promotes renewable, reliable, accessible, affordable, and sustainable energy across Negros Occidental./CJ, WDJ