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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider Lopez-led First Gen consolidates power assets under single brand

Lopez-led First Gen consolidates power assets under single brand

Published Mar 6, 2026 03:43 pm
Executives from First Gen Corp. and Energy Development Corp. (EDC) join officials from the Department of Energy and Securities and Exchange Commission in a toast during the geothermal subsidiary’s 50th-anniversary celebration on March 6, 2026. The event marked the official launch of a unified corporate brand, consolidating 28 solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal facilities under a single operational platform. (Photo by Gabriell Christel Galang)
Executives from First Gen Corp. and Energy Development Corp. (EDC) join officials from the Department of Energy and Securities and Exchange Commission in a toast during the geothermal subsidiary’s 50th-anniversary celebration on March 6, 2026. The event marked the official launch of a unified corporate brand, consolidating 28 solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal facilities under a single operational platform. (Photo by Gabriell Christel Galang)

First Gen Corp., the power producer controlled by the Lopez family, consolidated its energy portfolio under a single unified brand as its geothermal unit marked 50 years of operations.

During the Energy Development Corp. (EDC) anniversary celebration, Francis Giles Puno, First Gen president, said the move would centralize the company’s generation, supply, and energy services. 

The restructuring positions renewable energy as the primary driver of the group’s long-term strategy, streamlining a portfolio that includes 28 solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal facilities under a newly designated platform called First Gen Renewables.

According to the company, the reorganization aims to simplify its interactions with the market and its stakeholders. Under the new framework, First Gen Energy Supply will manage the group’s generation assets in relation to direct supply partners, wholesale customers, and the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market.

Meanwhile, the company’s behind-the-meter services—including on-site solar installations and energy efficiency audits—will be housed under First Gen Energy Solutions.

Puno said that the rebranding is intended to provide clarity for employees and partners regarding the company's integrated operations. 

He noted that the shift reflects a commitment to delivering reliable energy solutions grounded in current operating realities, reinforcing the group's role as a consolidated energy partner. 

The company has begun a gradual rollout of unified branding, including harmonized naming conventions and a shared visual identity across its subsidiaries.

The transition coincides with the golden jubilee of EDC, which remains one of the world’s largest integrated geothermal producers. 

Jerome Cainglet, EDC president and chief operating officer, said the milestone underscored the company’s five-decade legacy of producing 100 percent geothermal power, a sector that has historically placed the Philippines among the top global producers of the resource.

The government continues to prioritize geothermal energy as a critical source of baseload power—electricity that can be generated reliably around the clock, unlike intermittent solar or wind. 

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin noted at the event that the Department of Energy is working to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and share capital risks through a geothermal de-risking facility. 

Garin emphasized that because energy generation is inherently local, the government will strengthen mechanisms to ensure that host communities benefit directly from the steam and power produced on their land.

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