Butuan City builds international relations at Jakarta decarbonization forum
By Mariesh F. Celedeña
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The city government of Butuan continues to advance sustainable development efforts and strengthen international cooperation in support of climate action and energy transition initiatives.
Councilor Gemma Tabada, together with City Administrator Attorney Ian Sabado and other representatives of the Butuan City government, actively participated in the February 9–10, 2026 Twinning Arrangements for Decarbonization in Southeast Asia Regional Matchmaking Exchange held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Twinning Arrangements for Decarbonization in Southeast Asia is an initiative under the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP), designed to accelerate the clean energy transition in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The program aims to foster collaboration among cities and institutions to facilitate partnerships, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building efforts focused on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy solutions.
Around 75 representatives from both public and private sectors across the three participating countries joined the regional matchmaking exchange. The forum centered on practical strategies to decarbonize urban systems, enhance renewable energy adoption, improve energy efficiency, and strengthen local climate governance frameworks.
According to Councilor Tabada, Butuan’s participation in the regional forum reflects the city’s strong commitment to pursuing innovative and sustainable solutions to address climate change. She emphasized that building partnerships beyond national borders allows the city to learn from best practices, access technical expertise, and explore potential investments that will support its long-term sustainability goal of becoming a smart-eco city.
“This platform enables us to connect with like-minded cities and institutions that share our vision for a cleaner and more resilient future. Through collaboration and shared knowledge, we can accelerate our local initiatives while contributing to broader regional climate targets,” Tabada said.
The Butuan City Development Council has adopted the Local Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan (LEECP) for 2026–2028. This plan promotes responsible energy use, operational efficiency, environmental sustainability, and a 10 percent reduction in electric and fuel consumption by 2028. The engagement also opened opportunities for possible twinning arrangements between Butuan and counterpart cities in Indonesia and Vietnam, particularly in renewable energy development, sustainable urban planning, and low-carbon infrastructure projects.
As climate challenges intensify across the country, Butuan City’s participation in international platforms underscores its proactive stance in aligning local development strategies with global climate commitments. (MFC, PIA Caraga)
