BALESIN ISLAND, Polillo, Quezon – Aboitiz Upgrade Solar Inc. (AUSI), the joint venture between Aboitiz Power Distributed Renewables, Inc. and Upgrade Energy Philippines, has partnered with Alphaland Corporation’s Balesin Island to launch a new three-hectare ground-mounted solar farm.
The 4.1 megawatt peak solar photovoltaic system, paired with a 5.5 megawatt hour battery energy storage, will supply approximately 60% of Balesin’s total energy demand, saving an estimated 1.6 million liters of diesel annually.
“Renewable energy is not only for cities or industrial zones; it has a place even in the most exclusive and remote destinations,” said AUSI Director and AdventEnergy President James Yu. “I hope this project opens more doors to scaling renewable solutions across the country, reaching secluded locations like Balesin.”
Sustainable Tourism in Action
Balesin was among 298 Philippine cleanup sites participating in the 2025 International Coastal Cleanup Day. Under the theme “Clean Seas Against the Climate Crisis,” AUSI and Alphaland mobilized over 500 employees, partners, and local barangay volunteers, collecting approximately 6,000 kilograms of trash from coastal and inland areas.
Alphaland Corporation President Dennis Valdes said the initiative aligns with Balesin Island’s “Three-Pillar Innovation” framework—technological innovation, sustainable consumption, and community empowerment. “We are the first and only Philippine resort awarded by the United Nations World Tourism Organization for innovative tourism and sustainability,” Valdes said. “Creating a sustainable Balesin was always the dream of our founder, Roberto V. Ongpin.”
UGEP President and CEO Ruth Yu-Owen emphasized that combining clean energy with grassroots action demonstrates how partnerships drive sustainable progress. “Sustainability does not stop at the generation of renewable energy, it transcends to how we take concrete steps to care for our environment and maximize the collective power of communities,” Yu-Owen said.
