FIRST Gen Corporation subsidiary Bac-Man Geothermal Inc. (BGI), the owner and operator of the 197.27-megawatt (MW) Bac-Man geothermal power plant in Bicol, received a special recognition during the 2026 ASEAN Energy Awards in Pasay City on Oct. 7, 2026.

BGI earned the National Strategic Excellence Award under the ASEAN Renewable Energy (RE) category from the ASEAN Centre for Energy. The Jakarta-based intergovernmental organization sponsors the ASEAN Energy Awards, Southeast Asia’s highest recognition, to promote private sector participation in the development of the region’s energy sector.

Bac-Man was recognized for its operational excellence and compliance highlighted by its National Grid Corporation of the Philippines Blackstart Service accreditation and a win at the Department of Ener gy’s 2025 Sustainable Energy Awards for On-Grid RE Projects.

Bac-Man’s geothermal steamfield, which sits on Manito in Albay and Bacon in Sorsogon, has been supplying steam to the Bac-Man Geothermal Power Plant since 1993.

Before First Gen acquired it in 2010, the facility was not producing any electricity as it had suffered extensive damage from a typhoon. Post-acquisition, it underwent extensive rehabilitation and modernization and, within two years, the facility was restored to its full capacity.

In 2020, already grappling with the impact of the pandemic, Bicol further endured the loss of lives and the destruction from a super typhoon. BacMan extended its services to the public beyond its contracted obligations by providing power to the Bicol grid. Its “islanding operations” have helped Bicolanos recover from the aftermath of the super typhoon and the pandemic.

In 2025, the facility avoided emissions of close to a million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) or exactly 955,757.77 tCO₂e, by maintaining 100% RE use in its operations and keeping zero discharge through complete geothermal fluid reinjection. The avoided emission was equivalent to keeping more than 200,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road for a year (based on the greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator by the United States Environmental Protection Agency).

Bac-Man was also recognized for putting heavy priority on local economic participation, with over 90% of its 2025 procurement spend sourced from local contractors and vendors.

EDC president and chief operating officer Jerome Cainglet (right) receives the
National Strategic Excellence Award from Mohamad Azmi bin Haji Mohd Hanifah,
Brunei Darussalam minister, at the Prime Minister’s Office (Energy, Upstream and
Downstream) during the ceremonies held at the Museo del Galeón in Pasay City
PHOTO: DOE

By Frances Ariola