MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday highlighted the MTerra Solar Project as a critical investment that could help insulate the Philippines from future fuel price spikes and geopolitical disruptions affecting global energy markets.
Speaking at the launch of Phase 1 in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, Marcos said the integrated solar-and-battery facility supports the administration’s push to diversify the country’s power sources and strengthen long-term energy security.
The President pointed to recent tensions in the Middle East and their impact on world oil prices as a reminder of the risks associated with dependence on imported fuels.
According to Marcos, coal remained the dominant source of electricity generation last year at 57 percent, while renewable energy accounted for only about a quarter of total output.
He stressed that increasing the share of renewables is necessary to reduce the country’s exposure to international market fluctuations.
The MTerra Solar Project, developed by Terra Solar Philippines Inc. in partnership with Actis, has already energized 1,373 MW of solar capacity and 825 MW of battery storage under its first phase.
The Department of Energy recently confirmed that 750 MW of the project’s capacity had been cleared for testing, enabling power generated by the facility to begin flowing into the Luzon grid.
Marcos said Phase 1 is nearing completion and is expected to begin commercial operations in August, while the second phase is scheduled for completion next year.
When fully completed, the project will deliver up to 3,500 MW of solar power with 4,500 megawatt-hours of battery storage, enough to serve around 2.4 million households.
Beyond energy production, the facility is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs, cut annual carbon emissions by roughly 4.3 million metric tons, and contribute nearly PHP23 billion in economic benefits over the next 10 years.
The President said the project reflects the government’s broader strategy of expanding renewable energy capacity, increasing battery storage installations, and implementing long-term programs such as the Green Energy Auction Program to meet future power demand.elamigo/xf
