Ilocos Norte is a province blessed by nature in ways many others can only envy. We wake up to coastlines where waves crash with rhythmic strength, skies that blaze with sunlight even in December, and winds so persistent they’ve become icons of renewable energy through our famous Bangui windmills. If renewable resources were currency, Ilocos Norte would be one of the richest provinces in the country.

And yet, despite this abundance, Ilocanos continue to pay electricity prices that climb higher than the midday sun. With a verified 32 percent increase in electricity costs, from ₱7.60 per kilowatt-hour in March to ₱10 by November 2025, the disconnect between our natural wealth and our actual energy reality has never been more glaring.

DOE Secretary Vicencio Dizon acknowledged this during a press conference in Laoag City on November 21, reminding the public of the need for provinces to truly embrace renewable energy development. Solar adoption, for instance, has already begun in Calabarzon and is expanding in other regions. Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte, the province many consider to be one of the face of renewable energy in the Philippines, seems to be stuck in an awkward in-between phase: proud of its natural resources, yet not fully equipped with the systems to convert them into meaningful, affordable power for residents.

The Bangui windmills, for example, stand tall as symbols of progress. They are photographed, admired, and praised for their contribution to clean energy. But if our electricity costs continue to rise, then it becomes clear that either they are not generating enough to make a significant impact, or the integration of this energy into our local grid is far from efficient. And while the sun shines for free and the waves never stop rolling, Ilocano households continue to feel the strain of rising power bills—an irony too heavy to ignore.

Having natural resources is not enough. Renewable energy only becomes real, only becomes felt, when infrastructure is built, policies are enforced, and local systems prioritize long-term benefits over short-term convenience. Windmills, on their own, cannot carry the load of an entire province. We also need solar farms, rooftop panels on homes and schools, micro-hydro systems, water turbines, and battery storage facilities that can keep power steady even when nature varies. In short, Ilocos Norte needs a renewable energy strategy as powerful as the forces of nature that surround it.

This is why the upcoming discussions between DOE, INEC, Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos, and local officials must go beyond simply explaining the spike in electricity rates. They should confront the deeper question: Why is a province with so much renewable potential still dependent on expensive energy sources? And more importantly, What is stopping Ilocos Norte from fully harnessing the wind, sun, and water we already have in abundance?

Ilocos Norte should not only be a postcard of renewable beauty. It should be a functional model of renewable affordability. It should be known not only for what nature has given us, but for what we dared to build with it.

Nature has already empowered Ilocos Norte—it is now time for Ilocos Norte to empower itself, turning the wind, sun, and water around us into the sustainable energy future our people deserve.

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