Gov't must keep pace with private sector in clean energy push—PBBM

President Marcos said the government must "catch up" with private sector innovations in renewable energy, as he witnessed the energization of the country's first hybrid agro-solar and battery storage system in Tuy, Batangas.

- By ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

Marcos said this as he led the launch of Citicore Solar Batangas 1 on Monday, Sept. 15.

In his speech, the President reaffirmed his administration's commitment to advancing renewable energy in the Philippines, assuring continued efforts to attract more investments in the said sector and streamline project implementation in the country.

"This is what we... the government has to catch up to the technology that our private sector partners are providing," he said.

The Batangas project is the country's first to use agrivoltaics — allowing crops to be grown on the same land where solar panels are installed. Marcos said this resolves the old tension between clean energy and agriculture.