FDC UTILITIES, INC., the utilities arm of Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corp., will inaugurate a 21-megawatt (MW) solar farm in Misamis Oriental this month, as a part of its plan to energise 94 MW of solar capability within the country this 12 months.
The P700-million facility, which has over 34,000 solar panels, is predicted to generate about 30,450 megawatt-hours of unpolluted energy annually. Company officials described it as the most important solar farm in Mindanao.
FDC Utilities can also be targeting to interrupt ground by yearend on two additional solar projects: a 33-MW facility in Cotabato and a 40-MW project within the SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) region. These projects will expand the corporate’s solar portfolio, which now totals about 450 MW.
Asked if the corporate plans to expand beyond Mindanao, FDC Utilities President and Chief Executive Officer Juan Eugenio L. Roxas said: “Well, definitely if there’s a chance, we’ll heed the decision.”
“We’re generally small so far as capability is anxious. But as I said in my speech, we’re very pleased to be finally on the map. We made it to the highest ten last 12 months. Despite our size, we’d like to actually contribute,” he added.
In 2024, FDC Utilities announced plans to triple its generating capability to 1,350 MW by 2033, with the bulk expected to come back from renewable energy. Mr. Roxas said it remains to be premature to estimate the investment needed to achieve this goal.
HOSPITALITY
Meanwhile, Filinvest’s hospitality unit, Filinvest Hospitality Corp. (FHC), is targeting 75%-80% occupancy across its portfolio this 12 months, as the federal government’s easing of visa requirements is predicted to spice up foreign tourist arrivals.
“We’re seeing a surge from international travel. We hope that 2026 goes to be the rebound 12 months,” FHC President James M. Montenegro said in a separate interview.
“Travel on the whole, first quarter and middle of 2025 was a bit lower… but with the federal government’s easing of visas — for India and China — that is basically going to assist us in 2026.”
Tourist arrivals within the Philippines reached 6.48 million in 2025, data from the Bureau of Immigration showed, but remain below pre-pandemic levels. FHC’s portfolio includes hotels and resorts in Boracay, Mactan, and Muntinlupa City under the Crimson and Quest brands.
“Now we have other projects that should not a part of Filinvest that we’re working on. But on the Filinvest side, we have now possibly a few thousand keys to open in the following 4 years,” Mr. Montenegro said.
FHC plans so as to add 256 recent rooms this 12 months with the opening of Grafik Hotel in Baguio. It’ll also break ground on the five-star Crimson Clark in Pampanga, which could have 326 rooms and a construction period of three to 4 years. The project is positioned throughout the Filinvest Mimosa Estate, home to Mimosa Plus Golf, Filinvest Malls Mimosa, and the upscale Quest Plus Conference Center Clark.
“We’re really positioning Clark as the following MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) destination for northern Philippines,” Mr. Montenegro said.
FHC said it should goal mid-market and international guests for its recent hotels. “We actually concentrate on the mid to upscale market. We don’t need to be called a luxury player, so we play between $100 to $300-$400 rates, about P5,000 plus to around P15,000 per night,” he added. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera and Beatriz Marie D. Cruz