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Lanao Del Norte is part of Region 10 in the northern part of Mindanao and the southern part of Visayas. It has a total land area of 3,354.16 square kilometers. It is near the Illana Bay, Panguil Bay, and the Kolambugan Bays. Due to this, it has flourishing diverse habitats or mountain ecosystems. It is the home of the famous Maria Christina falls.

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Based on a 2020 Census, the population of Lanao Del Norte is 722,902 or 14.39% of the whole of Northern Mindanao, and it is 2.75% of the people of Mindanao. Moreover, the 2015 Census data states that their biggest age group is 5-9 years old, with 125,977 people. In contrast, Lanao Del Norte's lowest age group population has 5,678 individuals aged 80 and above. In addition, the 2018 Quickstat report of PSA states that there are over 7,582 females and 8,116 males.

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The economy of Lanao Del Norte is thriving in Northern Mindanao, as it contributes 19.4% to the whole region. In 2016, the average regular revenue of this was ₱1,212,967,390.88. With its major industries leading, Agriculture, Forestries and Fisheries (AFF), it indeed supported the entire economy of this province. In relation, the total economy of Lanao del Norte boosted in 2019 by 3.4%, with the industries mentioned above as the top contributors. However, in 2020 its economy decreased by 4.7% due to the pandemic.

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The United Nations established the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 with the intention of achieving them by 2030. These objectives are all directed toward enhancing many facets of life as well as society and the planet as a whole.

Chosen SDGs:

SDG 7-  Affordable and clean energy

It focuses on solving the power crisis issue and promoting sustainable energy sources. It aims to help the over 3 million people who still rely on coal, charcoal, or animal waste for everyday activities like cooking and heating. Also, energy is the most significant contributor to environmental issues because of its emissions. Having affordable, sustainable, and reliable energy is beneficial not just for people but also becomes necessary since we only have a limited time before climate change becomes irreversible.

SDG 16 - Peace Justice and Strong Institutions

The SDG 16 aims to take urgent action to manage conflicts, wars and their worsening impacts to the global population. War is a leading cause of displacement among citizens who are forced to avoid uninhabitable conditions characterized by killings, violence, disappearances, and human rights violations. This unjust disruption in people’s lives sinks them further into poverty and aggravates the inequalities they experience. Therefore, it is imperative to take immediate action to combat wars and conflicts to ensure that every individual is safe and has access to sustainable sources of income.

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Electricity was once a dream for Lanao de Norte. 

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Deprivation: Affordable and Clean Energy

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Deprivation: Affordable and Clean Energy

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1st  deprivation in relation to an SDG:

Lanao Del Norte is one of the developed cities in Northern Mindanao. However, one of its towns has no electricity power lines. Nunungan still uses small-diesel-powered generators to support the lives of its over 18,500 residents. Moreover, Lanao Del Norte's NGCP, or National Grid Corporation of the Philippines Tower, was bombed this October by an unidentified group. This incident led to a blackout in the different parts of Lanao Del Norte and some other parts of Zamboanga Peninsula.

Scientific Findings:

The use of diesel for generating electricity through generators is not foreign since people have utilized this mechanism since World War 2. It is efficient because it can power different objects like ships and trains. However, it produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and other particulate matter. These gasses are known to be harmful to the environment and humans. As stated in the United States Environmental Protection Agency report this June 2022, diesel emissions contribute to worsening global warming since it is affecting the ground-level ozone. Aside from that, exposure to it increases respiratory illnesses like asthma.

Technological Advancements:

The power crisis in Lanao del Norte shows the importance of SDG 7, "affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all." Different parts of Lanao del Norte still use diesel, which, as mentioned earlier, is harmful, unsustainable, and unreliable. To solve this power crisis, the Barangay Line Enhancement Program – Electrification Project of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) began this November. This project aims to provide electricity to the areas without access to it. It is a P43 million project funded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity. Additionally, the town of Nunungan will finally receive electricity after more than 50 years, thanks to the collaboration of Laneco and Lanao Builders and Enterprises.

To further see the importance of having power grids and electrical lines, a report by Greber in 1977 about energy planning states that it will lessen the cost of energy, reduce the number of blackouts and reduce the environmental challenges. Additionally, USC USA suggests that having grid transmission will be more reliable and flexible.

On the other hand, this also has some disadvantages, such as being more costly because construction requires labor and quality materials. Also, although power grids are better than diesel, there is still a risk because the electrical distribution over long distances has higher temperatures, hence, losing energy, and the consumers still pay for it. Lastly, there is a risk of privacy or cyber issues due to having electrical grids. There have been several cases when people hacked energy companies, and these hackers controlled a blackout (Štompf, 2020).

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2nd deprivation in relation to an SDG:
Communities in the province of Lanao del Norte have suffered through decades of long-running conflicts between secessionist rebels and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). These violent conflicts have led to the death of tens of thousands, destruction of properties and livelihoods, and displacement of families wanting to avoid the line of fire. Williams (2001) stated that displacement due to conflicts adversely affects individuals in fulfilling their social roles and responsibilities. Very recently, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) tower in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte was bombed by an unidentified group. This bombing reduced the electricity supply in Lanao del Norte and surrounding provinces, resulting in difficulties in their safety and livelihood. The unending violent episodes, such as the aforementioned conflicts, threaten the realization of the 16th SDG.

Scientific Findings:
The constant exposure of communities in Lanao del Norte to dangers due to armed conflicts compromises their safety, security, and well-being. According to Froilan Gallardo of Mindanews, the war in Mindanao has claimed the lives of at least 120,000 soldiers, rebels and civilians since the 1970s. Kamran Yeganegi et al. identified “lack of technological expertise” to be one of the culprits of issues surrounding national security. They concluded that Information technology plays a vital role in safeguarding the national security of nations.

Technological Advancements:
Kamran Yeganegi et al. suggested 5 information technology opportunities to strengthen national security. Out of the 5 enumerated, 3 advancements can be adopted by the communities in Lanao del Norte to reduce casualties and damages during conflict.

Global Positioning System Technology – In the event of an emergency, active GPS (GPS) devices can be utilized to quickly alert residents. For instance, phones with software can be activated with a device timer when monitoring is necessary.

Social Networking Tools – Social networking sites such as Facebook allow users to share information about security programs, emergency actions and community events through groups or pages. Law enforcement agencies must familiarize themselves with social networking tools to effectively disseminate community security news and strategies.

Virtual Emergency Operations Center – Communities in Lanao del Norte can make use of physical Emergency Operations Center to create a centralized connection between these centers and the respondents during disasters and conflicts. An Emergency Operations Centre dashboard can receive, store, and integrate single response programs, threat reports, and operational reports.