To the management of Energy Development Corporation and the First Gen Group; partners in the private sector; local government partners and host communities; friends in the media; ladies and gentlemen— magandang gabi po.
Over five decades, geothermal has proven its value again and again. It is clean. It is indigenous. And it is dependable, delivering power day and night, rain or shine. We Filipinos proved that we could build a world-class geothermal industry —right here at home.
Today, our national direction is clear. Under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we are pushing forward with a pragmatic, science-based energy transition — one that strengthens energy security, drives economic competitiveness, and protects Filipino consumers. We are committed to achieving 35% renewable energy in our generation mix by 2030 and 50% by 2040. These targets are not a slogan. They are measurable and time-bound. They guide strategy, planning, and infrastructure development across the renewable energy sector we must build to integrate more clean power while keeping the grid stable and prices disciplined.
In support of the energy transition, geothermal remains a firm renewable resource that strengthens grid stability and supports higher penetration of other renewables. And I am looking at EDC and First Gen to continue leading that charge, not only by building projects, but by showing how to deliver them with excellence, integrity, and strong community partnership that earns trust and endures.
Let me be specific about what the Department of Energy is doing to support our renewable energy sector.
First: we are cutting delay. We are strengthening mechanisms that speed up permitting and inter-agency coordination so that energy projects move with urgency and clarity. We want engineers and scientists in the field, doing surveys, assessments, and development work, not stuck in a waiting room.
Second: we are sharing risk. Geothermal exploration is high-cost and high-uncertainty. That is why we are moving forward with our Filipino Geothermal Resource De-Risking Facility, so that the exploration becomes a shared journey for our country’s shared progress. We will unlock more investment, more discoveries, and ultimately more dependable power for the Filipino people.
But even as we talk about national targets, policies, and financing, we must never forget this: energy generation is local. Steam rises from real communities, from real land, with real people who host and support these facilities.
EDC’s fifty-year story is inseparable from your host communities — communities that have stood with you through it all. The DOE stands with you in that commitment. Because for projects to be truly sustainable, they must earn not only permits, but trust. They must have not only national significance, but a genuine partnership with your local communities.
To your LGU partners who are here tonight, and to those joining from project sites: thank you. You are guardians of local welfare and partners in national progress. We will continue strengthening benefit mechanisms so that host communities meaningfully share in the value of the energy produced in their areas — because when communities prosper, projects endure.
To the employees of EDC, the teams on the ground: you are the heart of this legacy. You are the reason the Philippines remains a global geothermal leader. You have turned a natural advantage into national strength. You have proven what Filipino excellence looks like when it is sustained for fifty years.
So tonight, we celebrate more than a milestone. We celebrate a national capability, built by Filipinos, powered by Filipino resources, and anchored in Filipino communities.
To EDC and the entire First Gen Group, congratulations on your 50th anniversary. The Department of Energy thanks you for your leadership, and we look forward to the next chapter, one where geothermal continues to secure our energy future and strengthen our economy.
Maraming salamat po. Para sa bayang may Enerhiyang Matatag at Makatao! Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas!