Church leaders in Oriental Mindoro lead solar shift in 7 parishes

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Bishop Moises Cuevas says clean energy shift is not just a practical solution but a moral imperative

MANILA, Philippines – The Catholic Church in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, is leading the clean energy shift across seven parishes.

The Diocese of Calapan awarded contracts to bidders to solarize seven of its parishes, with a combined installed capacity of 200 kilowatt-peak. The parishes have been raising funds for the solar installation for five months.

Bishop Moises Cuevas cited the late Pope Francis’ Laudato si in their bid to make parishes in Mindoro shift to clean energy.

“Kaya ang paglipat natin, o ang ating pagtangkilik sa malinis at makalikasang enerhiya, ay hindi lamang usaping praktikal kundi isang moral na panawagan,” Cuevas said in a recorded message on Wednesday, April 29.

(That’s why our shift or our support to clean and green energy is not only a discourse of practicality but of morality.)

The awarding happened during the Renew Mindoro Investments Summit, an event led by the Diocese of Calapan. The contracts can generate 800 to 1,000 kilowatt-hours of clean energy across all parishes every day.

“The awarding marks the most concrete step yet in the island’s renewable energy transition, signaling that the Church’s commitment to clean energy has moved from aspiration to procurement,” a release about the summit read.

This is another step of the Diocese of Calapan to promote clean energy after it launched its two-year renewable roadmap in December 2025.

The plan not only includes parishes in the transition to clean energy but schools, mission areas, and partner communities as well.

Mindoro island has potential renewable energy capacity of 34.67 gigawatts, according to a 2025 scoping report from think-tank Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development. – Rappler.com