New and upcoming facilities for the country’s energy and utilities sector.
MTERRA SOLAR PROJECT PHASE I INAUGURATION
On Tuesday, July 14, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of th Phase I of the Meralco Terra (MTerra) Solar Project located in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija.
The said site is being touted as the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage facility, with the construction having taken place within two years — with Marcos also being present during the project’s groundbreaking.
The Phase I of the project has reached around 91 percent completion and is expected to become fully commercially operational by August 2026, while Phase II is targeted for completion by 2027.
Once completed, the facility will be capable of delivering up to 3,500 megawatts peak of solar power to the grid, which is then supported by 4,500 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage.
The project is expected to provide electricity to more than 2.4 million Filipino households and reduce carbon emissions by around 4.3 million metric tons annually.
In his speech, the President said the project reflects the government’s commitment to turning its energy plans into concrete results.
It is especially important as the country looks to diversify its power sources and reduce its vulnerability to fluctuations in global fuel prices and supply, which was proven during the recent US-Iran War that caused oil supply bottleneck and skyrocketing prices around the world.
“Today, as we gather once again for the inauguration of Phase I, we demonstrate our will and determination to ensure that our plans are coming into fruition,” the President said, adding that this comes at a time when there is a need to boost the Philippines’ energy sector has never been more apparent.
He added, “These capabilities will help strengthen the stability of our power system while expanding the role of clean energy in our power generation mix. Equally, importantly, its impact will be felt in the daily lives of our people.”
Marcos also said that the government looks forward to the facility providing jobs, stronger local government revenues, and sustained programs to promote community development.
He also stressed that the MTerra Solar Project forms part of the administration’s broader effort to transform the country’s energy sector to a “more resilient, competitive, and capable” system that could meet demands of a growing economy.
From July 2022 to May 2026, he cited, the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded 605 renewable energy contracts.
The agency also launched the 10-Year Green Energy Auction Program, which seeks to deliver 25 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity from 2027 to 2035.
Moreover, the country’s installed energy storage capacity has jumped from 93 megawatts in July 2022 to 845 megawatts as of May 2026.
The government is also pursuing the Smart and Green Grid Plan to accommodate additional renewable energy capacity.
NIA DIRECTED TO FAST-TRACK BALOG-BALOG MULTI-PURPOSE PROJECT
Meanwhile, on the same day, the President also directed the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to fast-track the Balog-Balog Multi-Purpose Project (BBMP) Phase II.
The project, located in San Jose, Tarlac, is said to be a P20.544-billion infrastructure project that is expected to irrigate 34,410 hectares of farmland, benefit 21,776 farmers, and generate 43.5 megawatts of renewable energy in Central Luzon.
“The mindset of the President is not the color of politics, but what is most important is the benefits for the interest of the people,” said NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen, who represented the President in the inspection.
He also described the Balog-Balog project as one of the most complex undertakings of the agency, citing the construction of two diversion tunnels and engineering features designed to withstand major earthquakes.
HISTORY OF THE PROJECT
According to NIA, the project was drawn from a World Bank-funded feasibility study conducted from 1978 to 1980 to support agricultural development in Central Luzon.
It was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in 1988 with a project cost of PHP2.712 billion, including an $85-million loan from the Italian government.
However, the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo severely damaged project facilities, buried portions of the service area under volcanic ash, and disrupted foreign financing, prompting the government to restructure the undertaking into two phases.
Phase I, implemented from 1999 to 2012, restored and improved irrigation service to 12,475 hectares and benefited 7,340 farmers in Tarlac.
The phase also rehabilitated irrigation facilities, upgraded sections of the North Main Canal, improved the Conveyance Canal and SMORIS irrigation systems, and raised the Tarlac Diversion Dam Ogee structures.
Phase II looks to expand irrigation coverage by an additional 21,935 hectares — increasing the total service area to 34,410 hectares.
Tise project includes the construction of the Balog-Balog Dam and appurtenant structures with a water storage capacity of 559 million cubic meters, 313.10 kilometers of irrigation canals and drainage facilities, a 150-hectare fishery component, and a 43.5-megawatt hydropower facility, further noted the irrigation agency.
Meanwhile, overall physical accomplishment has reached 45.79 percent, with 231.4 kilometers of the entire irrigation canals and drainage facilities already completed.
The agency also reported significant progress in institutional and social development components, recording a total of 87 irrigators’ associations organized.
Under the resettlement program, 531 affected families have been successfully relocated, while 455 of the targeted 699 core housing units have been completed.
NIA also said that resettlement sites have amenities such as schools, a barangay hall, day care center, health center, market, basketball court with stage, pharmacy and even a cemetery.
Furthermore, water supply assistance and power subsidies have also been provided to relocated residents, it added.
