ILECO II breaks ground for 12-MW Solar Power Plant in Dumangas
By Manny Regalado Alcalde
DUMANGAS, Iloilo — The Iloilo Electric Cooperative II (ILECO II) has formally broken ground for a 12-megawatt solar power plant in Barangay Balabag, Dumangas, marking a significant step toward strengthening renewable energy utilization and ensuring a more reliable and affordable electricity supply for its member-consumer-owners (MCOs) across the second, third, and fourth congressional districts of Iloilo.
The project supports the Department of Energy’s thrust for distribution utilities to integrate renewable energy sources into their power supply portfolio and reduce dependence on conventional energy sources.
“We gather today not only to break ground for a solar power plant but also to lay the foundation for a more secure, sustainable, and affordable energy future for the communities served by ILECO II,” said ILECO II General Manager Jose Redmond Eric Roquios during the groundbreaking ceremony held on October 28, 2026.
The 12-MW solar power plant project was initiated in 2022 and has since completed all necessary regulatory requirements, including land conversion approvals, environmental permits, and other documentary requirements for implementation.
The project is being developed by SKYE Renewables, a Dubai-based renewable energy company, through its Philippine affiliate, Iloilo Power Corporation, which handles its local investments and operations in the country.
Roquios said Dumangas was selected as the project site because it serves one of the fastest-growing load centers within the ILECO II franchise area. Neighboring municipalities such as Barotac Nuevo, Zarraga, and New Lucena have also experienced increasing power demand in recent years.
He added that the site is strategically located at the far end of the 69-kilovolt sub-transmission line, approximately 25 kilometers from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) substation. The project is expected to improve voltage stability and address power quality concerns in the area.
“This project adopts a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme, which means that ownership of the solar power plant will eventually be transferred to ILECO II at the end of the contract period and, ultimately, to its member-consumer-owners,” Roquios explained.
The solar facility will utilize advanced solar panel technology and state-of-the-art inverter systems. By harnessing solar energy, the project is expected to diversify ILECO II’s energy mix, reduce reliance on conventional fuel sources, and contribute to a more resilient electricity supply system, particularly during power shortages in the Visayas grid.
For his part, Gilbert M. Espino, Country Manager of SKYE Renewables, assured stakeholders that the company remains committed to completing the project on schedule, with commercial operations targeted by October 2027.
“Our goal is to provide electricity that is not only clean and sustainable but also competitively priced, helping make power more affordable for the communities served by ILECO II,” Espino said.
“We believe that economic progress and environmental responsibility must go hand in hand,” he added.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by members of the ILECO II Board of Directors led by Board President Rocky Decolongon, officials and employees of ILECO II, the management team of SKYE Renewables and IloiloPower Corporation, Dumangas Acting Mayor Carlo Oliver Diasnes, representatives from the office of Mayor Braeden John Biron, and other local government officials.
