The Cebu Provincial Development Council Executive Committee endorsed an 80-megawatt wind power project developed by MC Power Solutions Inc. in Alegria, which is expected to be operational by 2028.
Gov. Pamela Baricuatro highlighted that the project aims to stabilize the local grid and address recurring rotational brownouts by injecting electricity directly into the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.
Host communities will receive direct financial benefits, including local taxes and gross income shares, while developers prioritize hiring local residents and installing a meteorological mast to assess wind conditions.
CEBU is taking a major step toward fixing its electricity problems with a newly approved 80-megawatt wind energy project in the municipality of Alegria. Expected to be operational by 2028, the project aims to stabilize the local power grid and directly address the energy supply shortages that have recently troubled the province. The Cebu Provincial Development Council Executive Committee has officially endorsed the green energy plan.
Countering local power shortages
The development comes at a critical time for Cebu, which has been grappling with rotational brownouts. By injecting 80 megawatts of power directly into the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, the project will add a substantial amount of electricity to the network, helping to prevent future outages.
Gov. Pamela Baricuatro highlighted the urgency of the situation during an interview on Friday, June 12, 2026.
"This will really help us with our energy situation," Baricuatro said. “That is one basic infrastructure that hasn't been sorted out even before,” she added.
The push for the wind farm aligns with a broader effort to improve Cebu's energy security. This effort also includes a separate oil exploration project in Alegria that could eventually convert gas into an additional 150 megawatts of power.
Economic impacts and community benefits
Beyond improving power reliability, the wind farm is expected to stimulate economic development and tourism in Alegria, spanning the barangays of Guadalupe, Valencia and Lepanto. Baricuatro compared its potential to the established wind farms in Ilocos, which have evolved into major tourist destinations.
The host communities will also receive direct financial benefits to ensure the development supports the local population. These benefits include:
• Local Taxes: Real property taxes and local business taxes.
• Royalties: A one percent royalty share of total gross income and power sales shares.
• Power Sales Revenue: A P0.3-per-kilowatt-sales share mandated under Department of Energy (DOE) Regulations 1-94.
• Community Aid: Assistance provided through the Kahaligi corporate social responsibility program of the project developer, MC Power Solutions Inc.
To further protect local interests, the provincial government has emphasized job creation.
“So I just asked them if they can employ people in Alegria,” Baricuatro said, noting that she requested the developers prioritize hiring local residents.
Coordination and next steps
The project's progress relies on close coordination between private developers and local leadership. Representatives from MC Power Solutions Inc. initially approached national energy agencies and the DOE before arriving at the Provincial Capitol. Upon meeting the developers, Baricuatro directed them to secure local trust first.
"I advised them to go to the community, talk to the mayor, to the LGU (local government unit)," Baricuatro said. “After all, they will be the ones hosting them,” she added.
Following her advice, company officials met with local leaders in Alegria to present their development plans and corporate social responsibility initiatives. They later returned to report positive feedback from the municipal consultations.
Following the provincial council's endorsement on Wednesday, June 10, the project must now clear regional hurdles. The Provincial Government intends to secure backing from the Regional Development Council (RDC) before the proposal moves to the National Government.
“Yes, yes, that's really the goal, to include it in the RDC,” Baricuatro said. “We want to endorse it in the RDC,” she added.
Building for the future
Currently, the project is in its pre-development stage, with MC Power conducting land surveys, environmental studies and community consultations.
The company is installing a meteorological mast — a tower used to measure wind resources — in Barangay Guadalupe to assess conditions for the 10 planned eight-megawatt wind turbine generators. If the RDC finalizes its endorsement, detailed design and civil works are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2027, bringing Cebu one step closer to a cleaner, more reliable energy future. (CDF)