PNoy inaugurates first PHL-financed solar farm in Batangas 

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday led the switch-on ceremony of a 63.3-megawatt solar farm in Calatagan, Batangas, touted as the first solar farm established by a Filipino company.

Aquino, who has less than four months in office, said he considers renewable energy programs as part of his administration's successes.

"Papasinayaan rin natin ang Calatagan 63.3-MW Solar Farm, na siyang kauna-unahang solar farm na pinondohan at ipinatayo ng isang kumpanyang Pilipino. Ang tanong nga: Sa lahat ng ating tagumpay, meron po bang nag-akalang magagawa natin ito sa loob lamang ng halos anim na taon?" Aquino said.

Energy Undersecretary Donato Marcos said the Calatagan Solar Farm put up by Solar Philippines is capable of powering noontime demand in the western areas of Batangas.

"More importantly, this project will be a great contribution to the emission reduction and job generation efforts of the government,” he added.

He said the Philippines is committed in effecting policies that will spur the growth of the renewable energy portfolio to help achieve its conditional target of 70 percent carbon footprint reduction by 2030.

Leandro Leviste, president of Solar Philippines, attributed the country’s shift to renewable energy to Aquino’s "visionary leadership."

According to Leviste, before Aquino assumed office, the country's installed solar capacity was less than two megawatts. This month, it has exceeded the 500-megawatt target set by the Energy Department over a year ago.

"Already, solar is cheaper that diesel and natural gas and soon enough will be cheaper than coal," Leviste said.

"When that day comes Mr. President, solar farms will sprout across the country to supply Filipinos with cleaner and cheaper power, decommissioning old fossil fuel burning plants and we will remember it was under your administration when this all began and all of us here today will be able to look back with nostalgia and tell the story of how pioneering projects like the Calatagan Solar Farm came to be," he added. —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/KBK, GMA News