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Ayala-led ACEN Corp. and mobile wallet giant GCash, through its lending arm Fuse Financing Inc., have partnered with the Ilocos Norte provincial government to deploy rooftop solar systems across key areas in the province. The initiative aims to make clean energy more accessible by removing traditional financing barriers and enabling digital applications with flexible payment terms ranging from three to 10 years.
The program is positioned as the country’s first government-led effort to empower households to directly access renewable energy through solar rooftops. Initial rollout areas include Laoag City and the municipalities of Dingras and Pagudpud, targeting households with average electricity consumption of at least four kilowatt-hours per day.
“This initiative reflects how strong collaboration between the public and private sectors can bring the benefits of renewable energy directly to communities,” said ACEN president and CEO Eric Francia. “By combining solar technology, accessible financing, and local engagement, we are making clean energy more inclusive and within reach of Filipino households.”
Fuse Financing president and CEO Tony Isidro emphasized that the model expands green financing access to households without traditional credit lines or collateral, supported by a streamlined digital application process via GGives.
Local Implementation
The program integrates net metering through the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC), allowing households to export excess electricity to the grid in exchange for credits on their power bills. This mechanism is expected to further reduce electricity costs and improve the financial viability of rooftop solar investments.
Solaric Philippines will handle the supply and installation of the solar systems, while ACEN will support implementation, leveraging its experience managing over 7 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity.
The initiative builds on Ilocos Norte’s established role as a renewable energy hub, historically anchored on utility-scale wind and solar projects. The new campaign shifts focus toward distributed energy solutions at the household level.
Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos said the program reinforces the province’s position as a leader in clean energy while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Vice Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc added that the initiative is intended as a scalable model that could be expanded to reach more residents in the future.
Renewable Energy Adoption
The rooftop solar campaign comes at a time of growing interest in alternative energy sources as electricity prices face upward pressure, partly driven by global geopolitical uncertainties. By lowering entry costs and simplifying access, the partnership aims to accelerate residential participation in the energy transition.
Beyond households, ACEN is also advancing renewable energy adoption in the commercial sector. The company recently partnered with Lawson Philippines to supply 100 percent renewable energy to 25 stores through the retail aggregation program, which allows multiple users to pool demand and negotiate power supply terms.
Together, these initiatives are indicative of larger efforts by both public and private sectors to diversify energy sources, reduce costs, and strengthen energy security through expanded use of renewables at both large and small scales.
Source:
https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/04/30/2524505/acen-gcash-partner-ilocos-solar-rollout/amp
https://business.inquirer.net/587829/acen-gcash-pitch-solar-rooftops-to-ilocos-norte-households
https://mb.com.ph/2026/04/29/acen-gcash-launch-rooftop-solar-financing-program-in-ilocos-norte