Empowering CamSur through sustainable energy solutions

By Rhaydz B. Barcia

FOR nearly three years, over 2,000 previously powerless communities in Camarines Sur have been enjoying 24/7 electricity, thanks to the establishment of the Lopez-led FP Island Energy Corporation.

Federico R. Lopez, chairman and CEO of First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH), said that since FP Island Energy microgrids were set up in December 2021 across the islands of Haponan, Lahuy, and Quinalasag in Camarines Sur, 2,135 families have benefited from round-the-clock electricity. These communities, which once lived in darkness, now have consistent power access.

“A few days before Christmas in December 2021, we turned the lights on. Many of them first lit a Christmas tree. Our FP Island Energy microgrids started lighting up the lives of more than 2,135 households in the three islands of Haponan, Lahuy, and Quinalasag in Camarines Sur,” Lopez said.

Lopez emphasized that this energy transition supports their broader mission of providing access to electricity to more Filipino households who have never experienced 24/7 electricity. This new access has empowered residents to start small businesses such as ice-making for fish preservation, printing services, mobile charging, internet access, and online banking.

“Teachers now use computers and printers for lessons and school materials, and we’ve even donated Knowledge Channel’s portable media library to schools, allowing students to engage in more on-demand, interactive learning,” Lopez added.

Beyond the aim of creating a future-ready energy system, Lopez highlighted the need for Philippine cities, communities, and infrastructure to prepare for resilience in a world affected by climate change, noting that the country is among the top five most climate-vulnerable nations.

The Department of Energy (DOE), in a 2016 public notice, declared that providing electricity services to Lahuy and Haponan Islands in Caramoan and Quinalasag Island in Garchitorena, Camarines Sur, was open through the Qualified Third Party (QTP) Program. These islands are within the franchise area of Camarines Sur IV Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CASURECO IV), but were classified as remote and unviable for traditional energy distribution under the DOE’s QTP Program, as per Public Notice No. 2016-03-0002 dated March 28, 2016, pursuant to Section 59 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and Rule 14 of its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

The four barangays in Lahuy Island in Caramoan (Gata, Oring, Daraga, and Gogon), as well as Haponan Island and eight villages in Quinalasag Island in Garchitorena (Dangla, Cagamutan, Mansangat, Tamiawon, Cagnipa, and Sumaoy), were identified for the project. Originally, these islands relied on diesel generator sets, but Haponan ceased its operations several years ago, leaving these remote communities powerless.

To address this, the DOE approved FP Island Energy as the alternative service provider to energize these islands with electricity, benefiting more than 2,000 families or over 15,000 people under the QTP Program.

Lopez, a strong advocate for clean and renewable energy, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net zero by 2050. He pointed out that the world currently emits 59 gigatons of GHG annually (according to the 2023 IPCC Synthesis Report), and efforts should focus on reducing emissions by 2025, achieving net zero by 2050, and eventually reaching net negative emissions.

“The ultimate goal is to solve the climate crisis, which is real and demands urgent action. We have a narrow window of the next 25 years to make every action count and prevent irreversible damage to our planet. Net zero is the only way forward,” Lopez said.

He further outlined five key elements of the energy transition: reducing the carbon intensity of electricity, scaling up energy efficiency, electrifying the transport and industrial sectors, using carbon-neutral fuels for hard-to-decarbonize sectors, and deploying carbon capture, use, and storage (both nature-based and man-made).

“These changes will significantly impact the electricity grid. By 2050, we will need five times the electricity we use today and 10 to 12 times more clean energy,” he explained.

Lopez also discussed the company’s clean and renewable energy portfolio, which aligns with the Philippine Energy Plan. FPH targets growing its low-carbon energy portfolio to 13,000 MW by 2030, with 9,000 MW coming from renewable sources.

At Energy Development Corporation (EDC), FPH has embarked on multi-year well-drilling operations to boost output from geothermal power plants, one of the few renewable sources capable of providing 24/7 electricity. Additionally, FPH is exploring expansion projects in hydro, solar, and wind energy while investigating new technologies and alternative fuels to repower our natural gas plants, consistent with our own commitment to Net Zero by 2050. As we clean up our energy grid, we are also working to scale up energy efficiency as the “first fuel” and encourage its use,” Lopez said.