MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. asked the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Monday to collaborate further with the government to secure the country’s energy infrastructure.
At the same time, President Marcos urged the NGCP to help meet the country’s growing demand for electricity.
“I urge the NGCP to work closely with the government to ensure our energy infrastructure remains secure, reliable, and capable of meeting our growing demands,” President Marcos said during the signing in Ilagan City of the Connection Agreement between the NGCP and San Ignacio Energy Resources Development Corporation (SIERDC) for the Isabela Ground Mounted Solar Project (IGMSP).
“This collaboration that we have formalized today is key to achieving our renewable energy goals and to ensure a stable power supply for all Filipinos, not just for today but for the future. Having more initiatives like this project will be a catalyst for our country’s positive transformation,” he said.
The tie up, he pointed out, will pave the way for a brighter future for all Filipinos by providing more clean energy to light homes, invigorating schools, powering businesses, and fueling industries.
It will also help the country realize its renewable energy ambitions, which is the inevitable way forward, he said, adding renewable energy is a crucial step for a country and a world grappling against climate change.
Through renewable energy, the Philippines could have a greener, more secure, and sustainable future for the next generations of Filipinos, he stressed.
“Let us continue to pursue extraordinary opportunities like this to give ourselves and the next generations to come a fighting chance to succeed in reversing our exacerbating [climate problems],” the President stated.
With an investment of P18 billion, the IGMSP could generate about 440 gigawatt-hours of clean energy each year, which is enough to power nearly two million households.
In addition, its construction phase will create jobs for around 4,000 workers, boosting the local economy and improving the lives of many families.
The project is also seen to strengthen the entire national grid and move the Philippines closer to a resilient and renewable energy-secure future.
President Marcos expressed appreciation to the Provincial Government of Isabela, the NGCP, and the SIERDC for their dedication and hard work to the groundbreaking project.
He also thanked the French government and TotalEnergies for their invaluable contribution to such undertaking, stressing their commitment to renewable energy development in the Philippines shows the importance of international cooperation in tackling global challenges.
The SIERDC, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and Nextnorth Holdings Corp., is the project implementer.
The IGMSP is located at a 392-hectare industrial land in Barangays Cabannungan 2nd, Arusip, Bagong Silang, and Pilar in Ilagan City, Isabela.
Its construction could commence in the fourth quarter of 2024 and is expected to be ready for commercial operations by second quarter of 2026. (PND)
