Philippine Renewable Energy is helmed by a blockbuster all female leadership. The Department of Energy Renewable Energy Management Bureau’s supervising Undersecretary, supervising Assistant Secretary, Director, and Assistant Director are all women with decades of experience, commanding competence, and respect. Further along the energy regulatory street, a woman also leads as chairperson for the Energy Regulatory Commission, following a term as the chair of the National RE Board.

Despite the heartening female representation among national government RE leaders, women I meet on the field, especially in the rural areas, seem as rare as viable geothermal reservoirs. A 2017 UNESCO Study cited that although 52% of STEM research in the country are women, the majority of STEM  professionals are concentrated in the National Capital Region and surrounding Regions IV-A and III.

Myself a 25-year-old woman working on renewable energy for remote areas, I am often among the few, if not the only, woman in the room. Amidst Philippine norms, this means I was dared “Can you finish this? It’s for men!” when I ordered the Super Overloaded Pansit Batil Patung famous noodles in a micro-hydro project location. I assure my mom every time I go on field when she asks “Are you the only girl? Do you know the men with you?”  I was often asked “Can you really go up the roof?” to see the solar panels.

I prepared a few of my own questions for women working in Philippine RE. These questions aim to shine a light on the women RE professionals on the field whose daily work remains unsung but actually blaze a trail for future RE women. I then gathered answers from two other RE women I work with at UNDP DREAMS:

1. Engineer Faith Espinosa is the Municipal Engineer Assistant of the Government of Tapaz in Capiz. She powers field activities with local officials, UNDP DREAMS, and the community for the installation of three Solar PV Powered Potable Water Systems in her municipality. Among all of UNDP DREAMS’ focal partners from municipal engineer offices, Engineer Faith is the only female, and the youngest!
2. Engineer Eden Rose Perez is Senior Science Specialist from the DOE REMB Solar and Wind Energy Management Division. Engineer Eden shares her expertise for the UNDP DREAMS supported Oriental Mindoro Green Energy Pilot Project, which provided training on solar and will install solar PV systems across public buildings, faith-based structures, and an indigenous people’s livelihood center. Engineer Eden herself grew up in the off-grid province of Oriental Mindoro. She has served seven years in DOE, and is a loving mother to her five-year-old son.

How did you decide to become an engineer?

Engineer Faith: Engineering is actually not my dream course. When I graduated from high school, I was only torn between pursuing Psychology or Applied Mathematics. Engineering was my family’s idea, but they never forced it on me. I was convinced to pursue this path, and in a way, I also enjoyed it. After many years of working mostly in private companies and outside the country, at one point I decided to return and use the experience I have to also give back to our country in the form of public service.

Engineer Eden: First, I wanted to be an engineer because I love Math, which is the normal mindset of a student in high school, without any idea of the other side of engineering works. But, I studied Electrical Engineering because my father is working in the electrical field also. My father is the one who chose what will be my course in college. Being the firstborn, I believe that it’s my job to fulfill the dream of my father and make him proud.