Meralco energizes MTerra Solar in boost to PH energy agenda
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) is set to energize MTerra Solar, a 3,500-megawatt (MW) solar farm with a 4,500 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system, as part of its continued commitment to advance the government’s national energy agenda.
The project — the country’s largest integrated solar facility — is scheduled to dispatch an initial 85 MW of power this month, less than 15 months after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led its inauguration in November 2024.
President Marcos welcomed the development and commended Meralco’s broader efforts to expand electrification, strengthen renewable energy capacity, and support inclusive access to power.
“In the spirit of partnership, let me recognize the continued support of Meralco — our largest distribution utility, for its critical role in advancing our energy goals. From the Terra Solar project which will significantly expand renewable capacity through large scale solar and battery storage, to the electrification of remote communities and support of our net metering and lifeline rate programs, your initiatives help many Filipinos gain access to energy,” President Marcos Jr. said.
During an event at Meralco’s headquarters in Pasig City, the President joined Meralco Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon S. Garin, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan, and other officials in reaffirming shared commitments to social protection, renewable energy adoption, and universal access to electricity — priorities outlined in the President’s 2025 State of the Nation Address.
Meralco reiterated its support for the national energy agenda and pledged to continue working closely with the DOE, ERC, and other national and local government agencies to implement programs that directly benefit Filipino consumers.
Pangilinan highlighted initiatives aligned with the President’s directives, including strengthened implementation of the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program to ensure marginalized families benefit from electricity discounts, and streamlined net metering applications to make rooftop solar more accessible. These efforts support the administration’s target of energizing at least one million households through rooftop solar by 2028.
In support of total electrification, Pangilinan said in a Feb. 14 news release: “We continue working to bring reliable electricity to unserved and underserved communities–using both legacy and innovative grid solutions.”
Meralco recently launched a hybrid solar project that will soon provide 24/7 power to more than 1,000 residents on Cagbalete Island in Mauban, Quezon.
Beyond renewables, the company also secured a US$2.8-million technical assistance grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency to support a comprehensive study on the potential deployment of nuclear power plants in the country, in line with the government’s efforts to explore safe and responsible nuclear energy adoption.
Pangilinan said that these milestones were made possible through strong collaboration among government, regulators, utilities, and communities.
“We are deeply grateful that your government appreciates the importance in our work. Thank you for the direction you gave, and the productive partnership given to Meralco by your administration,” he told President Marcos Jr.
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