PetroGreen Intensifies Green Advocacy with We Power C.A.R.E. Program

In Bohol’s dense forests, where tiny Tarsiers peer from slender branches, Yuchengco-led PetroGreen Energy Corporation (PGEC) is nurturing a sustainable future. Their We Power C.A.R.E. program, launched in 2024, through a coffee table book titled Power in Harmony, aims to promote synergy between harnessing natural energy and protecting the environment. The program champions for the protection of 30 threatened species across six PGEC sites in the Philippines, from Visayan Hornbills in Aklan to Laguna’s rare orchids. “No single entity has a monopoly for love of country, care for the environment,” PGEC declares, rallying collective action for an ecologically vibrant nation.

We Power C.A.R.E. (Conservation, Awareness, Restoration, and Ecotourism) is PGEC’s cornerstone for environmental stewardship. Partnering with the University of the Philippines Los Baños, the company supports population studies to safeguard species like Bohol’s tarsiers. In Tarlac, near Canarem Lake’s migratory bird haven, they aim to guide communities in protecting the natural habitat of birds by building proper bird hides and planting native trees to serve as birds’ food.

“It’s about educating the community on the importance of responsible RE development,” said Maria Victoria M. Olivar, SVP for Operations and Business Development of PetroEnergy Resources Corp, PGEC’s parent company, underscoring role of active community engagement. Plans for a C.A.R.E. Summit, as Olivar noted—“We’re looking at a summit involving the Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR), academia, civil society organizations, local governments, and host communities, maybe next year, as platform to present researches and best practices in nature conservation in and around renewable energy sites”—signal a long-term vision.

The program’s ecotourism part aims to tap the potential of community-led responsible tourism. In Aklan, PGEC sent tourism officers for benchmarking studies on sustainable practices and supports local communities in promoting indigenous industries, such as Bariw weaving. This holistic approach complements their renewable energy mission, with a diversified 191 MW portfolio spanning geothermal, wind, and solar.

Under restoration aspect of the program, on of PGEC’s new initiatives is the agri-voltaics in its 19.6MW San Jose Solar Power Project in Nueva Ecija. Solar panels were elevated to a height of 2 meters to allow for crops to grow beneath and alongside the panels. The initiative aims to showcase that energy generation and food production can thrive in the same area. Collaborating with Central Luzon State University and city government of San Jose, PGEC selected certain vegetables, herbs, and ornamental plants in its pilot agrivoltaics site.

Community empowerment ties these initiatives together. In Limbauan, Isabela, PGEC trains locals as solar installers, providing green jobs and enhancing employability. “If they already know how to install or work in a solar farm, it will be part of their skill sets and they will have other employment opportunities,” Olivar said. “This is part of PGEC’s long-term mission of building and sustaining prosperous and peaceful communities through corporate social responsibility under the We Power H.E.L.P. (health, education, and livelihood program) banner,” adds Olivar.

PGEC’s broader portfolio, from geothermal plant in 2014 to wind farm in 2015 and more recently utility-scale and rooftop solar power plants, and their plans for a new 30–40 MW geothermal power plant and offshore wind projects, reflects their ambition to further contributing to power supply in the country. And through We Power C.A.R.E. and We Power H.E.L.P., the company models a future where energy and environment coexist and that communities prosper. Their work invites us to reimagine sustainability as a shared journey, balancing progress with preservation.

How can PGECs blend of conservation and renewable energy inspire sustainable progress in the Philippines? Share your thoughts!

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