About 956 megawatts (MW) capacity was added to the country’s power capacity within four months after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed the construction of more power plants to ensure that all Filipinos will have electricity. 

The Department of Energy (DOE) said the 956MW of new power generation, along with the establishment of 160MW new energy storage system in Luzon and the Visayas, was achieved as of Nov. 27 following the directive of the President during his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 28 to hasten the construction of 200 power plants. 

It said the new capacity “forms part of the DOE’s broader efforts to ensure sufficient and reliable power supply in support of the country’s growing economy.”

It said the additional generation is being produced by 12 power plants using renewable energy (RE) technologies, one oil-based power plant, and one natural gas-fired power plant. 

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said “every megawatt we add to the grid is not just a number on paper; it is electricity for homes, power for businesses, and confidence for investors.”

“By combining renewable energy projects with flexible conventional plants and modern energy storage, we are building an energy system that is cleaner, more reliable, and more resilient. This is how we honor the President’s directive: by turning commitments into completed projects that keep the lights on, bring down the risk of outages, and ensure that our people and our industries have the energy they need tomove forward,” she said.

The press release said the DOE will continue working with all stakeholders “to accelerate project implementation, streamline permitting processes, and ensure that future capacity additions remain consistent with the goals of energy security, affordability, and a just and orderly energy transition.”