Solar Philippines founder Leandro Legarda Leviste (left) and Senator Loren Legarda 

The country’s youngest self-made billionaire, Solar Philippines founder Leandro Legarda Leviste, has formalized his intention to run for Batangas 1st district congressman. 

Son of four-term Senator Loren Legarda, Legarda Leviste, 31, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Tuesday, Oct. 8, the last day of filing for the aspirants in the May 2025 mid-term elections. 

Legarda Leviste has committed to prioritize economic development in the 1st district, the most underdeveloped district in the whole of Batangas. 

The particular district consists of the municipalities of Nasugbu, Lian, Calatagan, Tuy, Balayan, Lemery, Taal, and the city of Calaca. 

“Our goal is for the national government to prioritize the development of the 1st district of Batangas, to bring its economy at least at par with other nearby districts of Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas,” Legarda Leviste said in an interview with reporters upon filing his COC. 

“Ang pangarap ko po ay sa darating na dekada ang walong bayan ng unang distrito ay maging mga modernong lungsod, at ang buong unang distrito ay maging isang metropolis na maaring mataguriang Metro Batangas,” he added. 

(My dream for the next decade is for the eight towns in the first district to become modern cities, and for the entire first district to be a metropolis dubbed Metro Batangas.) 

Legarda Leviste, has been recognized by Forbes Magazine, Bloomberg and Ernst & Young as a pioneer in the renewable energy industry of the Philippines. Solar Philippines, and its publicly listed unit, SPNEC, have developed solar power projects across the country, having completed the first solar power plant in Batangas in Calatagan in 2016. 

He is also an investor in Nasugbu’s Central Azucarera, the second largest shareholder of ABS-CBN Corporation after the Lopez family, and the youngest chief executive officer (CEO) to take a company public in the history of the Philippine Stock Exchange. 

Legarda Leviste’s supporters have cited his business acumen and success prior to entering politics as reasons why they believe that he can make significant contributions in the House of Representatives and in the province's 1st district. 

On Tuesday, approximately 35,000 supporters from the eight towns of the 1st district converged for the campaign’s official launch in Nasugbu as well as meetings for in Taal and Batangas City. 

The past week saw a signature campaign to convince Legarda Leviste to run for the House seat. 

Former congressmen Dong Apacible and Eduardo Ermita led the campaign, which had gathered signatures from more than 150,000 residents of the 1st district. 

“Sa aking buhay at sa aking negosyo, parang tumama po ako sa Lotto, at naniniwala po ako na tungkulin ko pong ibahagi ang mga naipanalo ko sa ating mga kababayan,” Legarda Leviste said. 

(In my life and in my business, I feel like I've hit the Lotto jackpot, and I believe that it's my duty to share my winnings to my people.)