President Marcos said a stable electricity supply is essential to productivity and economic opportunity, as he positioned the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) hydroelectric complex as a key stabilizer of the Luzon power grid.

During the project’s turnover ceremony in Laguna on Monday, Feb. 9, the President stressed that reliable energy underpins daily life and industry and that a dependable supply also affects essential services.

“For our workers and entrepreneurs, it means time saved, productivity gained, and opportunities found and sustained,” he said.

“For households, this means fewer power interruptions. For hospitals and schools, it means fewer service disruptions,” he added.

Marcos highlighted the technical role of the CBK facilities in balancing power supply and demand across the grid.

He said the complex “forms a system designed not just to generate power, but to balance the supply and demand across the entire power system.”

The Kalayaan pumped-storage facility, he added, helps ensure grid stability by storing excess electricity during low demand and releasing it during peak use.

The Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan Hydroelectric Power Plants in Laguna have a combined capacity of about 797 megawatts and have long supported the Luzon grid through complementary impounded, run-of-river, and pumped-storage systems.

President Marcos said privatization of the complex, completed through a bid of more than P36.27 billion, unlocks government resources while keeping operations running.

“With this privatization… the government is able to unlock significant resources while ensuring the continued operation of a strategically important energy asset,” he said.

He added that funds can be redirected toward social needs.

“These resources can be directed towards the immediate needs of the public, such as for classrooms, for roads, and for hospitals,” Marcos said.

The President also described the transaction as a sign of investor confidence and public-private cooperation in the energy sector.

“This privatization reflects investors’ confidence in the direction of our country’s energy sector,” he said.

Marcos emphasized the complex’s role in supporting renewable energy integration and long-term reliability.

“Facilities like CBK help support renewable energy integration into the grid,” he said, explaining how pumped storage allows cleaner power sources to operate at scale.

He added that strengthening partnerships and policies remains central to sustaining affordability and reliability, saying government continues “to strengthen the systems in our energy sector—by improving policies, processes, and partnerships.”