La Carlota farmers' coop launches first-ever solarized muscovado production
La Carlota City, Philippines — La Carlota farmers in Negros Occidental are working toward a climate-resilient peoples’ economy. The Hacienda Esperanza Communal Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association Cooperative (HECARCO), Alter Trade Foundation Inc. (ATFI), and Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) held a forum on June 25, 2026 and discussed a democratic renewable energy (RE) transition for marginal communities.
In January 2026, HECARCO, ATFI, and PMCJ agreed to work together to operationalize a distributed renewable energy (RE) microsystems in La Carlota. The Distributed RE Microsystems towards Community Empowerment through Resiliency Building Sustainable Production and Area Development Enterprise (DREM2CERSPADE) program continues to be realized through HECARCO farmers’ muscovado plant production.
“We are proud to showcase our progress on applying DREM in our production. We are grateful to be a pioneer community in this just transition to climate-sustainable energy systems. Negros and the Visayas region are among the areas greatly devastated by supercharged typhoons and drought. It is only apparent that we, marginalized sectors, take the frontlines of the fight for climate and social justice towards building a climate-resilient peoples’ economy,” said Ka Lito Estama, HECARCO chairperson.
Ian Rivera, PMCJ national coordinator, discussed the specificities of DREM for marginal communities. Negros Occidental Governor Jose ‘Bong’ Lacson and La Carlota City Mayor Jose Luis ‘Joelu’ Jalandoni delivered their messages of support. Representatives from the academe, such as Central Philippines State University and La Carlota City College, the LGU, and other farmer groups, also take part in the program.
“The world has little less time to do the necessary transition to prepare for more severe climate impacts as a consequence of breaching the 1.5 °C average global temperature. Here in the Philippines, surviving the crisis would mean protecting livelihoods and the basic requirements for life to survive. The realization of the DREM, which was started in HECARBA but will happen in 100 community economic enterprises, will enable communities not just to survive but sustain livelihood and the local economy. With the support of the provincial government of Negros Occidental and the local governments of La Carlota and Don Salvador Benedicto, just transition is realizable in this province”. Rivera asserted.
“We are thankful to HECARCO for the historic collaboration to realize 100% renewable energy in the production of the community’s naturally processed muscovado. Through the deployment of DREM, Negrenses will contribute to the global call of tripling renewable energy by 2030. PMCJ and ATFI, working with local jurisdictions, have identified 100 communities in Negros Occidental and 20 communities in Albay to pursue DREM2CERSPADE. The subnational strategy for pursuing the energy transition remains important for realizing the projects,” said Ted Lopez, ATFI executive director.
Part of the forum was a video showing the technological process of the DREM program in the muscovado production. On June 26, 2026, the groups are set to conduct a ceremonial switch-on of the solar photovoltaic (PV) set-up of the project’s first phase.
“DREM not only provides the shift technologically but sets rural consumers free from the grip of privately owned and profit-driven power monopolies. The community will own installed systems through their organizations with the vision of improving economic opportunities. A tariff system will be established to ensure not just the sustainability of system operations but also the system’s replicability. Let us make use of our technological advancements for the interest of our marginalized communities. This is where we should exert all of our efforts, strategies, and knowledge,” said Edwin Tesaluna, PMCJ senior RE officer.