Day 7 – SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

In recent days, the Philippines has faced recurring brownouts, with some outages lasting longer than expected. A family opens their electricity bill and hesitates at yet another increase, another month of choosing between electricity and food. In remote communities, darkness continues to hinder opportunities in healthcare, education, and livelihoods. In cities, traffic lights go dark during outages, putting lives at risk and disrupting daily life. These are not isolated incidents; they are daily realities for millions of Filipinos in 2026.

Energy is not just about light; it is about opportunity, health, and survival. Yet, access remains unequal and expensive. Globally, 92% of the population had access to electricity in 2024, leaving 655 million people still in the dark. Renewables supplied over 30% of global electricity in 2023, but the pace is too slow to meet 2030 targets.

In the Philippines, the challenge is even sharper. As of June 2026, the country had the highest residential electricity rate in Southeast Asia at ₱12.43 per kilowatt-hour, surpassing even Singapore. Some areas paid as high as ₱24.92/kWh. A household using 200 kWh saw their bill rise from about ₱2,350 in January 2025 to ₱2,970 in July 2026.

Without energy, progress stalls. Schools cannot function, businesses cannot grow, and health care cannot reach those in need. With clean, affordable energy, futures brighten. Solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal offer sustainable paths forward—for people and the planet. This is not just a technical goal; it is a promise that progress can be made without sacrificing the planet or excluding the poor.

At Colegio de Kidapawan, SDG 7 challenges us to innovate, conserve, and ensure that energy serves not just the few, but all.