ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Banking & Finance devider Landbank backs ₱800-million off-grid clean energy push in Palawan

Landbank backs ₱800-million off-grid clean energy push in Palawan

Published Jun 30, 2026 04:56 pm

At A Glance

  • State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) has provided an ₱800-million financing facility to Archipelago Renewables Corp. (ARC) to support rural electrification, benefiting more than 7,000 households and over 300 small businesses.
(In photo) LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (center right) and WEnergy Global CEO Atem S. Ramsundersingh (center left), together with partners, Archipelago Renewables Corporation President Quintin Jose V. Pastrana (3rd from left), Maharlika Clean Power Holdings Corporation Treasurer Jose Antonio Gozun (2nd from left), LANDBANK EVP Charlotte I. Conde (3rd from right), and FVP Ann Marijell B. Ong (2nd from right), formalize an ₱800-million financing agreement to deploy hybrid renewable energy-powered microgrids in underserved communities in Palawan. Also present as witnesses are H.E. Ambassador of the Netherlands Marielle Geraedts (leftmost) and Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara (rightmost).
(In photo) LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz (center right) and WEnergy Global CEO Atem S. Ramsundersingh (center left), together with partners, Archipelago Renewables Corporation President Quintin Jose V. Pastrana (3rd from left), Maharlika Clean Power Holdings Corporation Treasurer Jose Antonio Gozun (2nd from left), LANDBANK EVP Charlotte I. Conde (3rd from right), and FVP Ann Marijell B. Ong (2nd from right), formalize an ₱800-million financing agreement to deploy hybrid renewable energy-powered microgrids in underserved communities in Palawan. Also present as witnesses are H.E. Ambassador of the Netherlands Marielle Geraedts (leftmost) and Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara (rightmost).
State-run Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) has provided an ₱800-million financing facility to Archipelago Renewables Corp. (ARC) to support rural electrification, benefiting more than 7,000 households and over 300 small businesses.
Landbank said in a June 30 statement that the loan will fund the establishment of 16 smart, hybrid renewable energy microgrids and a 175-kilometer distribution network across 14 underserved barangays in Palawan.
These systems, situated within the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO) franchise area, will integrate solar photovoltaic technology, battery energy storage, and diesel backup to ensure 24/7 stable and affordable power for more than 30,000 residents.
The project has been recognized as an energy project of national significance, supporting the country’s goal of expanding electrification while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. ARC is backed by a consortium consisting of WEnergy Global Pte. Ltd., Maharlika Clean Power Holdings Corp. (MCPHC), and CleanGrid Partners Pte. Ltd.
During the ceremonial signing on June 22, 2026, ARC President Quintin Jose V. Pastrana noted the scale of the initiative.
“We are proud to build and expand this robust foundation with Landbank, one that represents the largest private sector venture in off-grid electrification, beginning with our host communities in Palawan, Quezon, and Cebu,” Pastrana said.
For Landbank, the partnership serves as a cornerstone of its commitment to climate-resilient development and inclusive growth.
“This initiative goes beyond building infrastructure; it powers opportunity,” Landbank President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz said. “By combining clean solar energy with innovative financing, we are strengthening communities, supporting local enterprises, and accelerating inclusive growth in underserved areas.”
WEnergy Global CEO Atem S. Ramsundersingh underscored the real-world impact of the financing on rural families and entrepreneurs.
“This partnership is about turning finance into economic and social impact, so a shopkeeper can keep her doors open longer, a child can study after sunset, and communities can move from darkness to opportunity,” Ramsundersingh said.
He added that Landbank’s on-site engagement reflects the state-run lender’s commitment to supporting rural electrification and development financing.
Per Landbank, the initiative also draws on Dutch knowledge infrastructure for its planning and design, a collaboration noted by Dutch Ambassador Marielle Geraedts, who attended the signing alongside Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara. (Derco Rosal)

Related Tags

Landbank of the Philippines Lynette V. Ortiz Palawan
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ static_articles_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.