ACEN Corporation, the energy company owned by the Ayala group, has partnered with GCash and the local government of Ilocos Norte to launch a special program that helps regular families put solar panels on their roofs. This is the first time a provincial government in the Philippines has led this kind of project.

According to a disclosure filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2026, the Ilocos Norte Solar Rooftop Campaign aims to make clean energy easier and more affordable for everyday households.

What Is This Program About?

Think of solar panels as special devices you can put on your roof that turn sunlight into electricity for your home. Instead of getting all your power from the electric company (which can be expensive), you can make some of your own electricity from the sun—which is free!

The program brings together several partners:

• Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte – the local government leading the campaign
• ACEN – provides the renewable energy expertise
• Fuse Financing Inc. (GCash’s lending company) – helps families pay for the solar panels through installment plans
• Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) – manages the connection to the electric grid
• Solaric Philippines – installs the solar panels

How It Works

Families who join the program can install solar panels on their roofs and pay for them over time—from 3 to 10 years—starting at only ₱1,300 per month. The best part? You don’t need to put up collateral (like property) as you would with traditional bank loans.

The payment can be done through GGives, which is GCash’s installment feature, making it easy to apply and pay using your phone.

There’s also something called “net metering.” This means if your solar panels make more electricity than you use, the extra power goes back to the electric grid, and you get credits that lower your electric bill even more.

What the Leaders Are Saying

Eric Francia, ACEN’s CEO, explained that this project shows how government and private companies can work together to bring clean energy directly to families. “By combining solar technology, accessible financing, and local engagement, we are making clean energy more inclusive and within reach of Filipino households,” Francia said.

Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos highlighted that this reinforces Ilocos Norte’s position as the “renewable energy capital of the Philippines” and represents a move away from fossil fuels.

Vice Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc called it a “first-of-its-kind project in the entire Philippines” and said they plan to expand it to benefit more people in the province.

Who Can Join?

The program will start in three areas: Laoag City, Dingras, and Pagudpud. It’s designed for households that use at least 4 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per day—these are families where solar panels would save the most money.

Tony Isidro, President and CEO of Fuse Financing, emphasized that the financing is designed to be accessible for everyone, even families who don’t have access to traditional bank loans or credit cards. The application process is simple and done online with minimal paperwork.

About ACEN Corporation

ACEN is the Ayala group’s energy company focused on renewable energy. It’s one of the fastest-growing clean energy companies in the Asia Pacific region. The company operates not just in the Philippines, but also in Australia, Vietnam, India, Lao PDR, and Indonesia.

ACEN currently manages 7 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity from various projects. The company generates 100% renewable energy and aims to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

According to the SEC filing, ACEN has 39,951,435,064 common shares outstanding, along with 8,341,500 Series A preferred shares and 16,658,500 Series B preferred shares. The company is headquartered at the 35th Floor, Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2 in Makati City.

Why This Matters

This campaign is significant because it makes solar energy accessible to regular families, not just big companies or rich households. By reducing electricity costs and helping the environment at the same time, the program shows how clean energy can become part of everyday life for ordinary Filipinos.

The Memorandum of Agreement among all partners was signed on March 16, 2026, at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol, officially starting the program’s enrollment phase.

This article is based on the company’s official press release and disclosures filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange’s Electronic Disclosure Generation Technology (PSE EDGE) system. For the complete and official version of the announcement, readers may visit the PSE EDGE website and search for the company’s filing directly.