• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Households and businesses in Bacolod City that use solar energy systems as alternative source of electricity could be eligible for tax incentives.
Under the proposed Bacolod Solar Energy Incentives Ordinance of 2026, approved on first reading by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, qualified residential households installing solar energy systems shall be entitled to a 100 percent real property tax (RPT) exemption on the first year, 75 percent on the second year, and 50 percent on the third year.
For commercial establishments and businesses using solar energy, the 100 percent business tax exemption shall be granted on the first year, and 75 percent and 50 percent on the second and third years, respectively.
There is need to support environmentally-sustainable initiatives that will benefit residents and local businesses in the city, proponent Councilor Dindo Ramos stressed, noting that “encouraging the installation of solar energy systems contributes to reducing carbon emissions and dependence on conventional power sources.”
He said that per the Department of Energy, delays in renewable energy projects amounting to nearly 18,000 megawatts may threaten the country’s power supply and increase the risk of shortages, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao, during peak demand periods.
Solar energy is a clean, renewable, and sustainable source of power that can help reduce electricity costs for households and businesses, the proposed ordinance stressed.
The city government of Bacolod promotes the use of renewable energy systems, particularly solar, as an alternative power source to reduce environmental impact, support energy independence, and lower electricity costs for residents and businesses, it added. | CGC
