BATANGAS CITY (PIA) -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Energy Secure Philippines - Women Engineers as Instruments for Sustainable Engineering in Renewable Energies (ESP-WISER) project, is calling on more Filipino women to participate in renewable energy engineering programs.
Introduced by the USAID in collaboration with the Philippine Technological Council (PTC) in March 2023, ESP-WISER project aims to open management positions to women and giving them a voice in clean energy transition by mentoring, holding technical seminars, competitions, and renewable energy campaigns in various areas nationwide.
In an interview with May Imperial, project manager of the ESP-WISER project, she said they continue to encourage more female engineers to get more involved in renewable energy engineering, especially as enrollment for engineering-related programs just sits at a critical level of 27 percent.
Due to the low enrollment rate, Imperial said that they are intensifying efforts to encourage students through series of sessions introducing renewable energy and emphasizing the need for more future advocates in the field.
This initiative aligns with the Department of Energy’s push for the 35 percent renewable energy share in the power generation mix by 2030 and at least 50 percent by 2040 as specified in the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) 2020-2040.
Currently, ESP-WISER is now accessible and open throughout the country to be able to capacitate those interested in the program.
“ESP-WISER Projects are implemented in 10 cities across the Philippines, including Batangas, Iloilo, Legazpi, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Zamboanga, Puerto Princesa, Baguio, and Manila,” said Imperial.
In the province of Batangas, Batangas State University The National Engineering University (BSU-TNEU), University of Batangas (UB) and Saint Bridget's College (SBC) support the program.
These institutions provide capacity building, seminars, mentoring programs, hands-on activities for kids, access to a free mobile app, and even conduct some competitions.
Additionally, career mentor seminars are being organized with female engineers sharing their experiences related to their work with the hopes of enlightening other students to pursue to field.
The project's effectiveness will be measured through the mobile app, where students in the mentoring program are logged in, and being guided once they enrolled in an engineering course upon reaching college.
For Imperial, there are more work to be done to meet the country's significant need for future engineers especially in renewable energy sustainability. She anticipates the involvement of more youth in the endeavor, as part of their own personal advocacies. (BPDC, CH/PIA-Batangas)
