The Energy Challenges and Strategies by Rural Communities in a Southern Philippine City

Abstract

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal advocates affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for nations. Communities face distinct challenges in energy decisions due to cost, convenience, and income, requiring context-specific strategies. This paper documents the struggles and strategies in agricultural barangays in General Santos City, Philippines regarding household fuel choice. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and inspections, then analyzed using qualitative-descriptive statistics. San Jose and Sinawal were predominantly of the Blaan ethnic group, mainly in the low-income class, relying on farming. Modern and traditional energy sources were available. However, electricity was predominantly used only for lighting, entertainment, and communication. In contrast, conventional sources like wood and charcoal prevailed for heating and cooking. The limited use of modern energy sources, e.g., electricity and liquefied petroleum gas for cooking, is attributed to their high cost and potential hazards. Challenges such as availability, reliability, proximity, possible risks, and legal violations are commonly encountered when using conventional sources. Strategies including reliance on local provisions, cooperation in programs, legal compliance, resource-saving, and energy switching were practiced to address these challenges. Nevertheless, residents continue to face hardships, emphasizing the need for alternative heat sources or improved systems and programs to enhance accessibility within the community.