ILOILO – A new solar power facility in Anilao town is set to become one of the largest renewable energy projects supplying electricity to Iloilo, marking another milestone in MORE Electric and Power Corporation’s (MORE Power) push toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix.
Urban Energy Development Corporation (UEDC), the project development arm of MabuhayPower Holdings Corporation, formally broke ground on its 6.6-megawatt alternating current (MWac) solar power plant in Barangay Cag-an, Anilao on June 4, a project expected to deliver more than 13,000 megawatt-hours of clean energy annually to MORE Power under a power supply agreement.
The solar facility forms part of a larger 50-megawatt solar complex being developed in Anilao, with the first phase scheduled for completion by the end of 2026 and a second phase targeted for mid-2027.
Sherwin Hing, executive chairman of MabuhayPower Holdings Corporation, said the project reflects the company’s long-term commitment to energy security and renewable energy development in Iloilo and other provinces.
“This entire Anilao complex has two phases. Phase 1 is the area where we are today, while another site will host an additional 30 megawatts. Altogether, the complex will generate 50 megawatts,” Hing said.
The first phase will exclusively supply MORE Power, while the second phase will also be integrated into the distribution network of Prime Electric Holdings Inc., the parent company of MORE Power.
“The first phase is committed for delivery by the end of this year, while the second phase is expected by the middle of next year. By then, there will be an additional 50 megawatts available to supply the Province of Iloilo,” Hing said.
The entire solar complex will cover approximately 45 hectares and represents a combined investment of more than P2.2 billion.
Beyond Iloilo, MabuhayPower Holdings is also developing renewable energy projects in Leyte, Bohol, and Bukidnon, bringing its current development portfolio to about 160 megawatts.
According to UEDC Chief Operating Officer Carlo Jose S. Morales, the Anilao solar project is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power about 5,400 households annually while helping reduce dependence on fossil fuel-based energy sources.
Morales said the facility is projected to generate 13 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy annually and offset an estimated 179,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over a 20-year period.
“The project directly contributes to provincial energy security while supporting the country’s renewable energy targets. It also creates economic opportunities through local employment and tax revenues for host communities,” Morales said.
Project proponents estimate that more than P29 million in government fees and local taxes will be generated throughout the facility’s operational lifespan.
For MORE Power, the project strengthens its growing renewable energy portfolio and reinforces efforts to secure stable and sustainable electricity sources for consumers in Iloilo City.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by representatives of MabuhayPower Holdings, UEDC, MORE Power, and local government officials from Iloilo Province and the Municipality of Anilao, who welcomed the project as a significant investment supporting both economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Officials said the solar plant aligns with the national government’s goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s power mix to 35 percent by 2030 while helping position Iloilo as a hub for green investments and sustainable development./PN
