TANAUAN CITY, BATANGAS — At a time when rising energy prices continue to challenge households and industries, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto reaffirmed the province’s commitment to sustainable and affordable energy solutions as she attended the launch of a major renewable energy initiative by First Gen Corporation.
The event opened with remarks from Mr. Francis Giles B. Puno, President and COO of First Gen, who highlighted the company’s long-standing partnership with Batangas and its continued investments in clean and resilient energy systems.
First Gen’s projects across the province reflect the scale of its commitment, from renewable energy facilities in Batangas City to residential projects and industrial expansion through the First Philippine Industrial Park in Tanauan City. Collectively, the company’s ecosystem of investments now supports approximately 83,000 employees in Batangas Province.
According to First Gen leadership, Batangas and Tanauan have become hubs for “lasting partnerships,” where business growth, community development, and environmental stewardship move forward together.
One milestone recalled during the program was the 2014 inauguration of the San Gabriel power plant, which Governor Santos-Recto attended more than a decade ago. The partnership continues to evolve with First Gen’s expansion into solar energy, reinforcing Batangas’ role in the country’s energy transition.
The company currently operates a diverse energy portfolio that includes geothermal, hydro, and other renewable platforms. While geothermal and hydro projects involve complex and long-term development, the new solar facility represents a faster solution.
A key innovation of the project is its design, which allows the land beneath the solar panels to remain productive for agriculture. The panels are elevated approximately 1.5 meters, creating enough space for farming activities below allowing the same land to generate both food and energy.
“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺,” Mr. Puno said, emphasizing how renewable energy can help stabilize long-term power costs.
In her keynote address, Governor Santos-Recto highlighted the importance of strong partnerships between the private sector and local government.
“𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘴, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥, 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵,” she said.
The Governor emphasized that initiatives like these strengthen Batangas’ position as a strategic hub for energy, industry, and sustainable development, creating meaningful livelihood opportunities for more Filipinos while supporting the country’s transition to cleaner power.
