The First Gen corporate social responsibility team and customer engagement group with Gov. Dodo Mandanas and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Lipa City officersBatangas has long been at the center of the Philippine energy landscape. With over 5,200 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity as of 2021, the province plays a vital role in keeping the nation’s lights on. Now, it’s stepping into a new role: leading the charge toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

On March 20, 2025, the provincial government of Batangas hosted the first Batangas Energy Summit at Holiday Inn in Malvar, Batangas. Organized by the Department of Energy (DOE), the Batangas Provincial Planning and Development Office and De La Salle University-Manila, the summit brought together local and national government agencies, energy players, private businesses, civil society groups and the academe to craft a shared road map for sustainable development.

At the heart of the discussions was the Philippine Energy Plan 2018-2040, which sets the country’s direction for meeting future electricity and fuel needs. With demand rising steadily—by about 5% annually—the Philippines needs to add over 49,000 MW of capacity by 2040.

A highlight of the summit was the DOE’s report on 50 renewable energy projects in Batangas totaling 98 MW of installed capacity and a potential of over 15,500 MW. In support of this direction, Gov. Dodo Mandanas reaffirmed his position: coal projects will not be allowed in the province. Instead, priority will be given to renewable energy and natural gas.

First Gen Corporation supported the summit and helped lead key conversations. The company has 1,651 MW of installed capacity from 28 solar, wind, hydro and geothermal power plants across the country. It also operates four natural gas-fired power plants housed in its Clean Energy Complex in Batangas City, providing an additional 2,017 MW. As a bridge fuel, natural gas offers flexible, lower-emission power generation and supports the integration of more renewable energy capacity in the country.

Arlene Soriano, First Gen’s assistant vice president and head of sales and engagement, shared the company’s longstanding commitment to decarbonization.

“For First Gen to achieve a cleaner future, we cannot do it alone,” Soriano said. “We must partner with businesses, the government and communities to transition the country to a greener future.”

Soriano credited First Gen’s direction to the vision of chairman Federico R. Lopez, who in 2016 made a bold decision never to invest in coal-fired power years before decarbonization became a mainstream goal.

Another key voice at the summit was Manny Portugal, vice president and head of technology solutions at Pi Energy. He underscored the importance of data awareness in driving change.

“Many customers are blind to their energy consumption, which is unfortunate,” Portugal noted. “But they’re beginning to realize just how valuable energy is. Turn your energy data today into action.”

The Batangas Energy Summit 2025 opened doors for collaboration, highlighted new investment opportunities and laid the groundwork for policies that will shape a resilient and future-ready energy landscape, particularly for Batangas.

(Story by:Dianne Datu)