First Gen calls for unified push to speed up clean energy shift

The Philippines must strengthen coordination among government, power producers, regulators and consumers to accelerate its transition to renewable energy without compromising electricity reliability, affordability and the country’s economic competitiveness, a top energy executive said.

Francis Giles Puno, president and chief operating officer of First Gen Corp., said achieving renewable energy targets should not be the sole measure of progress, stressing that consumers ultimately judge the transition by the quality and reliability of electricity delivered to their homes and businesses.

Speaking at the opening of the 4th Philippine Renewable Energy Conference in Parañaque City on Oct. 28, Puno said the country must ensure that cleaner power is matched by a dependable energy system capable of meeting rising demand.

Energy officials expect the Philippines to meet its goal of raising renewable energy’s share in the power mix to 35% by 2030, from 25% in 2025, as projects continue to come online.

Puno, however, emphasized that increasing renewable generation must go hand in hand with strengthening the power system and ensuring that industries remain competitive.

“Renewable energy targets cannot be our only measure of progress,” he said, pointing to the need to build sufficient power capacity, improve system reliability and expand consumer access to cleaner electricity.

He stressed that sustainability without reliability would fail to meet consumers’ needs, while maintaining reliable power without continuing to reduce carbon emissions would leave the country’s longer-term energy challenges unresolved.

The First Gen executive said closer coordination among stakeholders was essential because decisions on power generation, financing, regulation, grid connections and electricity consumption collectively determine the direction of the country’s energy future.

He added that aligning these decisions could help create a cleaner, more secure and competitive power system capable of supporting sustained economic growth.

The call comes as the Philippines seeks to expand renewable energy use while meeting increasing electricity demand from households, commercial establishments and industrial facilities.

For the country to achieve a successful energy transition, Puno said, the priority must be to deliver cleaner electricity that consumers can depend on, rather than focus solely on meeting numerical targets.