President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has renewed his commitment to improving the bureaucratic process in the energy sector to allow investors to come and do business in the Philippines easily.
*President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (RTVM Screenshot)*

Marcos said this as he led the inauguration of the 24.9-Megawatt Lake Mainit Hydro Power Plant (LMHPP) in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, on Wednesday, July 12. In his speech, the President called on the private sector to help the government achieve its goal of advancing clean energy, as he hoped the project would entice them to invest in the country. "Let this inauguration that we are commemorating today serve as an encouragement to potential investors to invest in the country, especially in the power generation and the renewable energy sector," he said. "I call once again on our private sector partners to join us as we realize our goal of advancing affordable, reliable, and clean energy for the benefit of our people," he added. With this, Marcos asked the people of Agusan del Norte to ensure the success of the LMHPP as he vowed to improve the government process to make it easier for investors to enter the Philippines. "I urge the local government of Agusan del Norte to provide all the necessary assistance to ensure the efficiency, safety, and productivity of this very important hydropower plant," he said. "We assure you that this government will continue to improve bureaucratic processes in the energy sector to make it easier for investors to come in," he added. "This lies at the very core of the Eight-point socioeconomic agenda as well as our commitment to mitigate the impact of climate change and to combat other environmental threats," he continued. According to Malacañang, the hydroelectric power plant fulfills the President's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) target of mitigating the impact of climate change and combating other environmental threats through advancing renewable energy for the benefit of the Filipino people. The LMHPP aims to deliver reliable and accessible electricity to Agusan del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ANECO) consumers and support the ever-growing demand for energy from both residential and commercial sectors in the CARAGA Region. It targets to provide approximately 100,871 megawatts of clean and affordable energy to around 45,000 households in local communities each year. It is also expected to generate socioeconomic opportunities for the people of Agusan del Norte and the rest of Mindanao. The project is a partnership between the Philippines' Markham Resources Corporation and Japanese firm J-POWER. In his speech, President Marcos said initiatives and projects such as the LMHPP are "most welcome" as the power demand in the country continues to increase. "They help the country increase the energy supply [and] improve our energy mix by prioritizing the use of renewables," he said. The Chief Executive likewise thanked Japan for being a reliable partner in the country's [transition to renewable energy](https://mb.com.ph/2023/7/12/marcos-welcomes-japan-s-help-in-ph-s-transition-to-renewable-energy) and hoped that both nations would develop more projects that will use renewable resources and contribute to ongoing efforts in solving the Philippines' energy problems. "This partnership that you have forged for the development and operation of this hydroelectric power project in Agusan del Norte is a clear manifestation of the trust and support that our two nations hold for each other," Marcos said. "I look forward certainly to greater cooperation [and] stronger bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan, especially in the field of renewable energy," he added.