The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN
On its inauguration last July 14, the MTerra Solar project in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija was praised by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as “the world’s largest solar project” adding it will greatly boost the energy security of the Philippines.
Although the accolade “largest solar project in the world” might be a little stretched, the MTerra is indeed the largest photovoltaic power station in the Philippines, and it is owned and operated by Manila Electric Company (Meralco).
Marcos Jr. on Tuesday inaugurated Phase I of the Meralco Terra (MTerra) Solar Project, touted as the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage facility, as part of the administration’s efforts to expand renewable energy and strengthen the country’s power supply.
Marcos said the project reflects the government’s commitment to turning its energy plans into concrete results as the country seeks to diversify its power sources and reduce its vulnerability to fluctuations in global fuel prices.
“This achievement comes at a time when the need to boost our energy sector has never been more apparent,” he added.
The solar project is developed by Terra Solar Philippines Inc. (MTerra Solar), an affiliate of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), the renewable energy subsidiary of Manila Electric Co.
“What we inaugurated today will be the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage facility located in a single site,” said MGen chair Manny V. Pangilinan, who turned 80 on Tuesday.
“And it rises not in Texas, not in the Gobi Desert, but right here in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. This inauguration today was made possible not only by Meralco but by many other hands, other minds, and many hearts,” he added.
Pangilinan was given a birthday cake by the President on this occasion.
Hands, minds, and hearts
MVP referred to other hands, minds and hearts aside from Meralco’s which contributed much to the construction and establishment of the solar facility. He did not specify them as Chinese.
It took a source in the internet group “Kakasa Ka Ba?” to explain who these hands, minds and hearts are.
Here goes: “Few media outlets mention that this cornerstone project of the Philippines’ clean energy drive relies entirely on Chinese enterprises for overall design, equipment supply and on-site construction. Hundreds of Chinese engineers and skilled workers left their hometowns and endured sweltering tropical weather to finish the project.
“Their goal was to help the nation build an affordable and stable power supply network and resolve chronic domestic troubles including power shortages and exorbitant electricity prices. However, before the project was fully completed, law enforcement authorities launched an abrupt raid and took these peaceful developers into custody.”
It was reported that last Feb. 26, 2026, agents of the Bureau of Immigration and police cordoned off Zone A construction camp of the MTerra solar project. More than 100 Chinese nationals were taken into custody, consisting of senior engineers from two major Chinese state-owned energy firms, equipment technicians and on-site management staff.
All detained personnel held valid PHL work permits, official employment filings and project authority certificates and the authorities failed to produce solid evidence of any wrongdoing.
It was nothing but a harassment operation.
No mention about China in the President’s speech, not even a word on why MTerra chose Chinese technology for the project.
The President noted that the economy has relied heavily on conventional sources of power, particularly coal, which accounted for 57 percent of the total power generation mix in the country. Renewables, meanwhile, contributed only about 25 percent.
“Such an energy mix leaves us more vulnerable to fluctuations in global fuel prices and developments in the international market, as we have experienced in the last few months,” Marcos said.
“It underscores the importance of diversifying our energy sources, and how we must be committed to moving that mix in the direction to favor renewables,” he added.