PLDT Inc. has begun sourcing renewable energy (RE) for 17 of its high-consumption facilities, including its two main offices in Makati City, as part of its decarbonization drive.

The Ramon Cojuangco Building and the Makati General Office, both located in the Makati Central Business District, have a combined monthly power demand of more than 2,200 kilowatts (kW). PLDT said shifting these and other facilities to RE is expected to cut its carbon footprint by about 18,000 tCO₂e each year.

The initiative is part of a supply agreement with MPower, Meralco’s retail electricity unit, under the Competitive Retail Electricity Market (CREM). The program covers PLDT sites with an aggregate demand exceeding 15,000 kW per month.

“Embracing RE is a strategic step in transforming how we power connectivity. As our customers – whether large enterprises or individual consumers – are becoming more conscious of sustainability and increasingly concerned about their environmental impact, we are evolving alongside and building a network that is not only reliable and far-reaching but also aligned with the vision for a greener future,” said Menardo “Butch” Jimenez, Jr., PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Head of Network.

Leo Gonzales, PLDT Property and Facilities Management Head, emphasized that the transition helps manage resource demands while cutting environmental impact. “As the business grows, we continuously seek efficiencies amid increasing power and resource requirements. This transition to RE helps us in achieving these, while also reducing the environmental footprint of our operations,” he said.

Beyond Makati, PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. have also enrolled 153 sites into the Retail Aggregation Program (RAP), giving smaller facilities access to renewable energy. The group aims to expand RAP coverage in Visayas and Mindanao before the end of 2025.

PLDT’s sustainability chief Melissa Vergel de Dios said the shift to RE is tied to the company’s long-term strategy. “The continuing integration of RE into our power mix supports our goal of ensuring that our business existence extends into the future and responds to the evolving expectations of our stakeholders,” she said.

The company is also upgrading its copper lines to fiber—which consumes less energy—and using AI to optimize Smart’s cell site operations nationwide.

PLDT targets a 40% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 2019 levels, aligning with global Net Zero targets.

How significant is PLDT’s renewable energy shift for the country’s green transition? We’d like to hear your views.

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