NGCP told to work closely with gov’t to make power infra secure, reliable

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to “work closely” with the government to help the country in its 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,” Marcos said during the signing of a Connection Agreement between the NGCP and San Ignacio Energy Resources Development Corporation (SIERDC) for the Isabela Ground Mounted Solar Project (IGMSP).

In the same speech, Marcos recognized the collaboration between NGCP and SIERDC as the “key” to achieving the country’s goals on renewable energy.

“Having more initiatives like this project will be a catalyst for our country’s positive transformation,” he said.

READ: Marcos urges NGCP to complete energy projects on time

Marcos also named renewable energy the “inevitable way forward” and “a crucial step for a country and a world grappling against climate change.”

“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],” said Marcos.

With an investment of P18 billion, the IGMSP is estimated to generate about 440 gigawatt-hours of clean energy each year — enough to power nearly two million households —  all while creating jobs for around 4,000 workers during its construction.

The project is also seen to strengthen the entire national grid and move the Philippines closer to a resilient and renewable energy-secure future.

Meanwhile, Marcos also thanked the French government and French energy company TotalEnergies for their contribution to the IGMSP, noting the importance of international cooperation “in tackling global challenges.“

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 is set to begin within the fourth quarter of 2024 and is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2026.

READ: Marcos calls for PH-wide energy-saving measures