LAHUG, Cebu City—The PNOC and the National Power Corporation (NPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on May 5, 2025, to pursue joint energy initiatives in the Visayas region. 

PNOC President and CEO Oliver B. Butalid and NPC President and CEO Fernando Martin Y. Roxas formalized the collaboration, which lays the foundation for both government-owned and controlled corporations to enter into project agreements aligned with the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) 2023–2050. Under the PEP, the Department of Energy aims to increase renewable energy’s share in the power generation mix to 35% by 2030, 50% by 2040, and more than 50% by 2050, which drives a nationwide shift toward more sustainable energy systems.

The MOU covers areas of cooperation, including joint research for energy projects, hybridization of diesel power systems in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), site identification for micro-hydropower development, and the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in off-grid locations. These collaborative efforts aim to expand access to clean, stable, and affordable energy in remote parts of the island group. 

The MOU signing was part of a two-day planning workshop held at the NPC Small Power Utilities Group Visayas Operations Department. The activity gathered experts and key staff from both agencies and the Department of Energy to define and align hybridization strategies. Through in-depth discussions, the teams identified specific solar capacity and battery storage needs for each site, determined the required quantities of equipment and materials, and developed a comprehensive deployment timeline, covering procurement, installation, and commissioning phases.

Potential implementation challenges—ranging from logistical bottlenecks to technical limitations—were also identified, along with corresponding mitigation strategies. To support the execution of these solutions, both agencies agreed on a division of responsibilities to enhance coordination and uphold accountability throughout the implementation phase.

Emphasizing the momentum these sites can build, PCEO Butalid remarked, “These areas are seeds of something bigger. It’s an exciting time for both PNOC and NPC. With over a thousand islands still unenergized, you can imagine the scale and the potential. These sites give us the opportunity to demonstrate that we are making a difference in as many islands as we can.”