Mandaue City, Cebu, is set to enhance its clean energy efforts with the installation of a 638-kilowatt-peak rooftop solar system at Oakridge Business Park. This initiative is part of an expanded collaboration between Oakridge Realty Development Corp. (ORDC) and the Lopez-helmed First Gen, aimed at integrating renewable energy (RE) into the mixed-use development.
ORDC President Anne Liu and First Gen Chief Engagement Officer Carlo Vega formalized the agreement on February 27, 2025. The project underscores both companies’ commitment to sustainability by reducing the business park’s carbon footprint and promoting cleaner power solutions in the region.
(Also read: PH’s Biggest Desalination Plant Taps Waste-to-Energy)
Advancing joint efforts
ORDC and First Gen initially joined forces in 2021 when ORDC secured a deal for First Gen to provide the business park with electricity from its natural gas power plant. Natural gas, a cleaner-burning fossil fuel, produces lower emissions than coal, making it a more sustainable energy source. This latest agreement further reinforces their alliance, now extending into solar power integration.
In 2023, ORDC entered a new agreement with First Gen to transition the business park’s power supply to geothermal energy. This RE harnesses heat from beneath the Earth’s surface to generate electricity, providing a sustainable and reliable power source with minimal environmental impact.
Vega expressed pride in working with like-minded companies committed to sustainability.
“We started the decarbonization journey with Oakridge with low carbon power supply from natural gas and we’re proud to have been with them all these years as they transitioned to 100 percent RE,” he said. “We are committed to supporting the Oakridge team as they implement more energy solutions and further reduce the environmental impact of their property developments.”
As part of the updated supply agreement, First Gen and its affiliate Pi Energy Inc. will equip Oakridge Business Park with a remote system for real-time electricity monitoring.
(Also read: Mandaue to Launch Cebu’s First EV Charging Station)
Provincial milestone
Spanning four hectares, the Oakridge Business Park will be the first mixed-use development in Cebu to operate entirely on renewable energy. The park will also feature electric vehicle charging stations and solar-powered mobile device charging points.
Since the inception of Oakridge Business Park in 2009, ORDC has focused on promoting sustainable solutions to benefit the environment. Liu explained, “We would like to believe that the impact of our initiatives has not only led to an improved carbon footprint but has also significantly influenced the lifestyle and more importantly, has instilled a more conscious mindset in the communities we serve.”
ORDC is the real estate division of LH Paragon Group Inc., a diversified holding company based in Cebu with operations both locally and internationally. The group’s portfolio includes Golden ABC Inc., the company behind popular fashion brands like Regatta, Penshoppe, Bocu, OXGN, Memo, and ForMe.
Meanwhile, First Gen boasts a total power generation capacity of 3,668 megawatts (MW), with 1,651 MW from 28 renewable energy plants, including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal. The remaining 2,017 MW comes from four natural gas facilities.
Sources:
https://mb.com.ph/2025/3/2/first-gen-to-supply-solar-power-to-cebu-biz-park