ESPRESSO MORNINGS
By Joe Zaldarriaga
Under his guidance, Meralco achieved unprecedented milestones, clinching a historic 3-peat Company of the Year title at the IABC Philippine Quill Awards, scoring the only PR Team of the Year trophy bestowed at the Anvil Awards, and securing numerous honors at international and local communication awards.
Manong Joe’s leadership also extends as a respected member of the Board of Trustees for the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), concurrent with his role as Chairman of the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines) where he also served as its President.
Manong Joe is a distinguished awardee of the medallion of honor and scroll of commendation from the University of Manila, owing to his years in public service as a communications professional. He shares his insights through columns in renowned publications, including The Philippine Star’s The Z Factor, and Philippine News Agency’s ESPRESSO MORNINGS.
With the series of typhoons that devastated parts of the Philippines recently, the need to come up with sustainable solutions to address the worsening impact of climate change has never become more urgent.
The sad reality is that while the Philippines is a relatively low emitter of greenhouse gases, it is one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Thus, it makes sense for the Philippines to invest and develop projects that can significantly contribute to global efforts to fighting climate change.
Last week was a huge leap forward for the country’s transition to renewable energy sources with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Terra Solar integrated solar facility —the world’s largest solar power plant and battery storage facility— developed by Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) and SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC).
While the Philippines has made significant strides in its sustainability journey, the groundbreaking ceremony of Terra Solar —led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Meralco chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) Manuel V. Pangilinan or MVP— marks the start of the most ambitious renewable energy project to date, not only in the Philippines but in the whole world.
As President Marcos said, the Terra Solar project is a “landmark project” that “will put our country on the map as a leader in renewable energy.”
The USD4 billion (over PHP200 billion) Terra Solar project spans 3,500 hectares across Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, and has a total capacity of 3,500 megawatts peak (MWp), complemented by a 4,500 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity. Once completed, Terra Solar is expected to supply clean energy to more than 2 million households and avoid carbon emissions by around 4.3 million tons per year. This is equivalent to removing more than 3 million gasoline-powered cars from our roads annually.
According to MGEN President and CEO Emmanuel Rubio, Terra Solar represents a vision of a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for generations of Filipinos.
“This groundbreaking represents more than just the start of construction —it’s the start of a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow,” he said.
The project is also well aligned with the Department of Energy’s goal to source around 35 percent of the country’s energy from renewable energy by 2030. The Philippines aims to increase the share of renewable energy further to 50 percent by 2040.
Beyond its capacity and size, Terra Solar answers two of the country’s pressing energy needs: growing demand to support our country’s economic trajectory, and the urgent need for cleaner and greener power sources to fight climate change.
On the economic side, Terra Solar serves as an invitation to renewable energy investors around the world that the Philippines is a leader in this global transition. It will also boost the country’s power supply in support of the economy. Locally, the project is expected to spur some 10,000 jobs in communities in Central Luzon, and can generate PHP22.87 billion in community benefits in the next decade. These are significant resources that can accelerate growth in the countryside.
For Filipinos everywhere, Terra Solar is a source of pride —a firm testament to our country’s commitment to drive sustainable growth. As mentioned by MVP during the groundbreaking ceremony of the project: “At the end, this is all showing the world what Filipinos can achieve when the public and private sectors work together with focus and urgency.”
Terra Solar is the Philippines’ message to the world —investors and governments alike— that renewable energy is not just an optional path forward in addressing climate change, it is a strategic opportunity for sustainable progress.
From the environmental to the economic gains, Terra Solar is a significant leap forward in ensuring a sustainable future for the Philippines.
And as President Marcos said: “Let us ensure that Terra Solar becomes a beacon of hope and progress —a testament to what we can achieve when we protect and preserve our natural resources, while drawing strength from its abundance.”
