Makati earns ERC recognition as first LGU to champion renewable energy
Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay proudly announced that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has recognized Makati as the first local government unit (LGU) in the Philippines to champion 100-percent renewable energy utilization under the Retail Competition and Open Access and the Retail Aggregation Program.
ERC Chair and CEO Francis Saturnino Juan presented the certificate of recognition to Binay on March 19 during the signing of a nine-year Renewable Energy Supply Agreement between Makati and ACEN Corp. that will facilitate the full transition of all city government facilities to renewable energy.
“This initiative reflects how we envision Makati: a city powered by clean energy—fueling our public transport, energizing our businesses and households, and supporting our schools, hospitals, and public spaces. It is a vision that aligns with the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda, and one that we are proud to actively pursue,” said Binay.
Under the agreement, all 154 city government facilities, including the New Makati City Hall, Ospital ng Makati, and the University of Makati, will shift from conventional power to 100-percent renewable energy sourced from ACEN’s solar, wind, and geothermal plants. That is nearly 10 megawatts of combined load shifting to renewable energy.
“At a time when global uncertainties, including ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, continue to put pressure on power prices, this partnership is both timely and strategic. It strengthens our energy security while reducing the impact of rising costs of electricity on the city’s resources,” the mayor aid.
Through a guaranteed discount on the prevailing utility generation charges under the agreement, the city is projected to save around P300 million over the nine-year contract period.
Binay said the agreement is part of her administration’s push to adopt circular economy practices in Makati, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“This is how we want to govern. Clean energy powering our buildings, that same energy powering our electric vehicles, and savings going back to public services. That is what a circular economy looks like in practice, and Makati will be the proof of concept,” she said.
Over the life of the contract, the transition is expected to prevent about 289,885 metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to removing 62,000 cars from the road or preventing the combustion of 108 million liters of diesel.
The mayor also expressed her hope that the agreement would encourage other local governments in the country and across Southeast Asia to pursue similar programs.
“We want other cities to look at what we did here and say, we can do that, too. If the most urbanized, most densely populated financial district in the country can run on renewable energy, then other cities will also be inspired to try,” Binay said.
ACEN will also install 19 EV charging stations at city facilities at no cost to the city government. Powered by the same renewable energy supply, the stations will support the city’s e-jeepneys, e-buses and e-shuttles.
