ANILAO, ILOILO — MORE Electric and Power Corp. and Mabuhay Power Holdings Corp. broke ground on a PHP 500‑million solar farm in Barangay Cag‑an on June 4, 2026. The 6.6‑megawatt facility is the first phase of a renewable energy complex planned to exceed 36 megawatts. It is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
The project stems from a power supply agreement signed in July 2025 between MORE Power and Urban Energy Development Corp. Mabuhay Power operates as a subsidiary of UEDC. MORE Power Vice President Niel Parcon attended the groundbreaking alongside Mabuhay Power officials and local government leaders.
A Timely Solution for Grid Stability
UEDC Chief Operating Officer Carlo Jose Morales said the solar farm will help improve energy stability in Iloilo and the wider Visayas grid. The region has been experiencing frequent yellow alerts as electricity demand rises across Panay, Negros, Cebu, Leyte, and Bohol. The plant adds locally generated renewable power and reduces dependence on fossil fuel‑based sources.
The initial facility will generate more than 13 gigawatt‑hours of clean energy annually. That output can power approximately 5,416 households based on average monthly consumption of 200 kilowatt‑hours. The project is expected to offset around 179,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over its estimated 20‑year operating life.
A Larger Renewable Energy Hub in the Making
Morales confirmed that the Anilao project is only the beginning. "Another solar development will be built right beside this and additionally in close proximity to this site. All in all, we are looking at a total capacity of over 36 MW that would be operating here in Anilao," he said. The expansion signals growing investor confidence in Iloilo's renewable energy potential.
The project will adopt a community‑centric approach, creating jobs during construction and operations while supporting economic activity in the host community. Developers said the solar farm is projected to generate more than PHP 29 million in government fees and local tax revenues over its lifespan. The initiative supports the national government's target of raising the share of renewable energy in the power mix to 35 percent by 2030.
