CEBU CITY – The province of Bohol was the perfect venue for the Special ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME).

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said this on Wednesday night, Jan. 21, as she lauded Bohol for its forward-looking renewable energy initiatives.

The province’s efforts to push for renewable energy are key reasons why it was a fitting venue for the meeting, Garin said.

Garin particularly commended Bohol for pioneering the mapping of areas suitable for renewable energy development, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, and for being the first province in the country to enact an ordinance creating the Bohol Renewable Energy Board (BREB).

Speaking during the welcome dinner for ASEAN SOME delegates at the five-star South Palms Resort and Spa in Panglao, Garin expressed her appreciation for Bohol’s hosting of the meeting under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship.

“I would like to commend the province of Bohol for their energy efforts. They are the first island to have a resource assessment, mapping the island on where to put renewable energy plants,” Garin said per the province’s public information office.

“They are the first in the country that issued an ordinance on renewable energy. So this is the right venue,” she added.

Garin noted that Bohol’s concrete and practical energy initiatives reflect the collective ASEAN goal of shaping a resilient, inclusive, and low-carbon energy future.

She highlighted Bohol’s role as a multi-awarded province and a prime destination whose natural beauty and strong local governance contributed to the success of the event.

Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, in his welcome remarks, underscored the significance of the gathering in strengthening regional cooperation on energy security, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability.

He emphasized that as a UNESCO Global Geopark and a regenerative island, Bohol is deeply committed to advancing renewable and sustainable energy pathways.

“We believe that economic growth and environmental stewardship must go hand-in-hand, as we pursue low-carbon development and greener power generation for future generations,” the governor said.

He invited delegates to draw inspiration from the island’s heritage of cooperation symbolized by the historic Sandugo or Blood Compact.

Aumentado also reiterated Bohol’s alignment with the ASEAN theme, “Navigating Our Future, Together,” as the region embarks on the next phase of energy cooperation under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026–2030.

Prior to the welcome dinner, Aumentado and Garin met provincial and DOE officials to discuss plans for power sufficiency in Bohol and the expansion of renewable energy sources in the province.