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Filinvest switches on first ₱1-billion utility-scale solar plant in Mindanao
Business
The Stock Market
Filinvest switches on first ₱1-billion utility-scale solar plant in Mindanao
Filinvest switches on first ₱1-billion utility-scale solar plant in Mindanao
Published May 23, 2026 05:40 pm
Energy industry officials and Filinvest Development Corporation executives join the inauguration of
FDC Green Energy Corp.’s (FDC Green) new large-scale solar power project in Misamis Oriental. Seen
in the photo are (from left to right) Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Atty. Francis Saturnino Juan, National Electrification Administration Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda, FDC Vice Chairperson Josephine Gotianun-Yap, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, PHIVIDEC Administrator Atty.
Joseph Donato Bernedo, FDC Director Michael Edward Gotianun, FDC Chairman Jonathan Gotianun, and FDC Green President and CEO Juan Eugenio L. Roxas
Filinvest Development Corp. has formally inaugurated its first large-scale solar power project in Mindanao, marking the conglomerate’s expansion into the utility-scale renewable energy market to capture growing regional demand.
The 20.774-megawatt peak (MWp) ground-mounted solar facility, located within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, was developed by FDC Green Energy Corp. The unit is a wholly owned subsidiary of the group’s utility arm, FDC Utilities, Inc.
The project represents a capital investment of more than ₱1 billion and operates under a 25-year solar energy service contract awarded by the Department of Energy. It is projected to generate approximately 30.2 million kilowatt-hours of net clean energy annually, supporting the government’s efforts to address an estimated 5.5% annual growth in peak electricity demand through 2030.
Energy officials, including Department of Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin, Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Francis Saturnino Juan, and National Electrification Administration Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda, attended the commissioning ceremony.
Garin noted that the Misamis Oriental development is the first utility-scale solar power plant in the country to be paired directly with a thermal baseload facility, creating a hybrid power configuration designed to improve grid stability.
The project is one of 22 renewable energy installations designated by the Department of Energy for expedited completion.
The facility deploys bifacial solar modules, which absorb sunlight from both the front and rear surfaces. This technology increases energy yields by up to 30 percent compared with conventional single-sided panels, according to Juan Eugenio L. Roxas, President and Chief Executive Officer of FDC Green Energy. The elevated output during peak daylight hours is intended to enhance regional grid reliability and optimize long-term asset value.
At full operational capacity, the solar array is expected to displace approximately 21,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The environmental offset is equivalent to removing about 4,500 passenger vehicles from the road each year.
Filinvest chose the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate for its flat topography and proximity to existing power substations.
Company executives said the strategic location provides an operational framework to establish a renewable energy hub in Mindanao, which could attract industrial tenants seeking low-carbon power solutions to meet corporate sustainability mandates.