PH showcases green projects in Spain

SEVILLE, SPAIN—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Board of Investments (BOI), showcased the Philippines’ leadership in enabling inclusive, climate-aligned investments and building a pipeline of bankable green projects, particularly in renewable energy, at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) held in Seville, Spain.

At the FFD4 side event, “Unlocking Green Investment in ASEAN through Investable Projects: The Untapped Role of Investment Promotion Agencies,” held on 30 June 2025, the BOI was the featured ASEAN investment promotion agency (IPA) on the panel. BOI Executive Director for Investments Promotion Services Evariste Cagatan and Zenith Renewable Energy Corporation (ZREC) CEO Aries Tulalian highlighted the country’s pioneering efforts in advancing investable, climate-aligned projects.

Moving beyond traditional investments promotion, the agency was cited by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) as the first IPA in ASEAN to actively support project developers in vetting, packaging, and promoting investment-ready renewable energy projects. This initiative includes close collaboration with developers, early engagement with regulators, and addressing critical gaps in project bankability, setting a new regional benchmark for proactive investment promotion and facilitation.

The event was jointly organized by the DTI-BOI, UN ESCAP, and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), underscoring a strong partnership in advancing green investments across the Asean region.

This engagement was followed by the Roundtable on Pathways for Sustainable Growth through Investment in the Energy Transition, held on 1 July 2025 during the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Investment Fair at FFD4—the first time the FFD conference has featured an Investments Roundtable, with the Philippines proudly among the participating countries that showcased investment-ready projects aligned with the goals of financing for development.

Representing the country, the BOI and ZREC presented two (2) bankable, investment-ready renewable energy projects: the 50 MWac Libmanan Solar Energy Project by ZREC and the 76.65 MWac Isabel Solar Power Project by Mabuhay Power Holdings (MPH).

BOI, UN ESCAP, and the FDI Center worked in close partnership with the project developers to improve the project packaging according to international investment standards and to enhance their bankability and appeal to investors. The collaboration demonstrates how strategic partnership, robust project preparation, and strong institutional support can result in tangible, investable, specific opportunities for investors.

The BOI has received encouraging and affirming feedback from international financiers, further strengthening its resolve to scale up efforts in green investments promotion. Building on this momentum, the agency is refining its strategy by deepening coordination with government counterparts and local government units, enhancing its internal capacity to evaluate green project documentation, and replicating successful models like the ZREC and MPH solar projects, paving the way for more impactful, investment-ready projects in the pipeline.

With the Philippines targeting 50 percent of power generation mix to be accounted for by renewables by 2040, the DTI-BOI reaffirms its role not only as a promoter but also as a key navigator of the country’s inclusive energy transition strategy. PR