MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday said the government’s push to modernize major power facilities is aimed at strengthening grid reliability and lowering electricity costs, citing the turnover of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan Hydroelectric Power Plants (CBK HEPP) as a critical step in stabilizing the Luzon power supply.
Speaking during the turnover ceremony of the CBK HEPP in Kalayaan, Laguna, Marcos underscored the administration’s focus on energy reforms, streamlined processes, and expanded public-private partnerships to ensure long-term affordability and reliability of electricity.
“We continue to reinforce the systems in our energy sector, promoting reliability and affordability in the long term,” Marcos said.
He said closer cooperation between the public and private sectors is designed to safeguard public interest while ensuring transparency and accountability in the energy industry.
Marcos explained that the CBK facilities play a strategic role in balancing power supply and demand by pumping water to an upper reservoir during off-peak hours and releasing it to generate electricity during periods of high demand. He said this system supports cleaner, more efficient large-scale energy production.
The President added that modernization of the CBK complex would help reduce power outages that disrupt households, hospitals, schools, and businesses, while also boosting productivity and economic opportunities.
Marcos noted that the transfer of the CBK HEPP to the Thunder Consortium—composed of Aboitiz Renewables Inc., Japan-based Sumitomo Corporation, and J-Power—signals a move toward a more resilient and reliable national energy system.
The CBK complex is among the largest hydropower facilities in Luzon, with a combined capacity of 797 megawatts. Its three plants perform distinct functions: Caliraya operates as an impounded water system, Botocan as a run-of-river facility, and Kalayaan as a pumped-storage plant.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, the CBK HEPP has long been a backbone of the Luzon grid, helping stabilize power supply and meet the energy needs of millions of Filipinos./PN
