Thursday, September 17, 2026

Alsons Power expands Cebu retail electricity supply footprint with Makoto Metal deal

  


Alsons Power Group continues to strengthen its presence in Cebu’s retail electricity market following the addition of Japanese-affiliated Makoto Metal Technology Inc. (MMTI) to its growing customer portfolio.

Alsons Power Group continues to strengthen its presence in Cebu’s retail electricity market following the addition of Japanese-affiliated Makoto Metal Technology Inc. (MMTI) to its growing customer portfolio.

Through Alsons Power Supply Corporation (APSC), the company has recently closed a retail electricity supply agreement with MMTI’s manufacturing operations for its two (2) plants at the Mactan Export Processing Zone II (MEPZ II) in Lapu-Lapu City.

The agreement marks another milestone in APSC’s expansion beyond Mindanao and strengthens its growing presence among commercial and industrial customers in the Visayas.

“For a manufacturing company like Makoto Metal Technology, Inc., having a reliable, competitively priced, and flexible electricity supply is essential to sustaining our operations and supporting our continued growth. We see Alsons Power as a trusted partner that understands the unique requirements of the manufacturing industry and can provide the reliability, flexibility, and support we need as we expand our operations,” said Jon Romulo A. Montances, Admin and Support Manager, Makoto Metal Technology, Inc.

Under the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) framework, qualified electricity consumers such as MMTI can choose their electricity supplier based on factors including pricing, service reliability and supply arrangements.

“The competitive offer was an important factor in our decision. What ultimately gave us confidence in APSC, however, was their ability to clearly explain why we were experiencing the challenges we have with our incumbent supplier and provide a solution that could significantly improve our electricity costs moving forward,” Montances added.

MMTI manufactures precision metal components, die-cast parts, and optical products, and provides assembly services for various industries.

The partnership strengthens APSC’s position in Cebu, one of the country’s major manufacturing and commercial centers, as the company continues to serve businesses seeking competitive and customized electricity supply options.

“Cebu is an important market for us, particularly with its strong base of manufacturing and commercial customers. Partnering with MMTI is an important step in expanding Alsons Power’s presence in the Visayas and bringing our energy solutions to more businesses across the country,” Alsons Power Chief Executive Officer Antonio Miguel B. Alcantara said.

The MMTI agreement comes amid continued growth in APSC’s contestable customer portfolio. Currently, APSC serves nine contestable customers and sources electricity from various power facilities across the country.

APSC’s growing customers reflects increasing demand from commercial and industrial consumers for electricity supply arrangements that offer competitive rates, reliable service, and solutions aligned with their operational requirements.

APSC is the retail electricity supply arm of Alsons Power Group, serving commercial and industrial customers in the contestable electricity market. Alsons Power is the power generation business of the Alcantara Group.

Carziqo’s Growing City Footprint Points to Wider Potential in Autonomous Mobility

The autonomous mobility company is extending its presence across major U.S. markets as competition in driverless ride-hailing shifts from technology trials to commercial fleet operations.

Carziqo is emerging as an increasingly visible participant in the autonomous mobility industry as the company extends its reach across a growing number of American cities.

Founded in 2024, the company operates at the intersection of autonomous ride-hailing, intelligent fleet management and connected mobility. Its expanding geographic footprint reflects a broader industry transition: driverless transportation is gradually moving beyond limited testing environments and toward commercial services designed for everyday urban travel.

Carziqo has been developing its presence in markets including Los Angeles, Austin, New York, San Francisco, Phoenix, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Miami. Collectively, these cities provide the company with access to diverse transportation environments, from densely populated urban centers to sprawling metropolitan areas where residents depend heavily on private vehicles and ride-hailing services.

The expansion highlights Carziqo’s long-term potential, but it also places the company in an increasingly competitive market occupied by technology groups, automakers and mobility operators pursuing similar opportunities.

Cities Become the New Autonomous Mobility Battleground

The development of autonomous ride-hailing is no longer defined solely by whether a vehicle can operate without a human driver. The more significant commercial question is whether companies can manage hundreds or eventually thousands of autonomous vehicles safely, reliably and profitably across multiple cities.

That requires more than advanced driving technology.

Operators must predict passenger demand, position vehicles in the right locations, manage charging schedules and respond to changing traffic conditions. They must also maintain consistent service while working within regulatory frameworks that can vary substantially between cities and states.

Carziqo’s expansion strategy appears designed around this operational challenge. Rather than relying on a single market, the company is building experience across cities with different road networks, passenger habits and transportation needs.

Los Angeles offers a large but highly dispersed mobility market. New York presents greater density and more complex traffic conditions. Phoenix has become an important testing ground for autonomous transportation, while Austin has attracted a growing number of mobility and technology companies.

Miami and Houston add another set of commercial opportunities, including airport transportation, tourism, business travel and suburban mobility.

The differences between these cities could provide Carziqo with valuable operating data as it develops its fleet-management capabilities.

Intelligent Fleet Management Could Define the Winners

For autonomous ride-hailing companies, the vehicle itself is only one part of the business model.

The software used to coordinate vehicles may ultimately determine whether an autonomous fleet can operate efficiently. Artificial intelligence can analyze historical travel patterns, estimate future passenger demand and direct vehicles toward locations where ride requests are more likely to emerge.

A well-coordinated fleet can potentially reduce the amount of time vehicles spend traveling without passengers. It may also shorten waiting times and improve the use of charging and maintenance infrastructure.

Carziqo is seeking to build its mobility network around this combination of autonomous vehicles and intelligent fleet operations. Under such a model, vehicles function as connected components of a larger transportation system rather than as independent assets.

As the company enters additional markets, the amount and diversity of operational information available to its systems could increase. Data from commuting routes, airports, entertainment districts and residential areas may help improve vehicle positioning and route allocation.

That creates a potential network effect: geographic expansion produces more operational insight, which can support better fleet decisions and make future expansion more efficient.

Growth Potential Comes With Significant Challenges

The commercial potential of autonomous ride-hailing remains substantial, but the industry’s path toward large-scale adoption is far from straightforward.

Developing and operating autonomous fleets requires considerable investment in vehicles, sensors, computing systems, charging infrastructure, maintenance and remote operational support. Companies must also satisfy regulators and convince passengers that driverless transportation can be safe and dependable.

Public trust remains particularly important. A technical failure involving one vehicle can affect perceptions of an entire fleet or, in some cases, the broader autonomous mobility industry.

Local regulations create another challenge. Approval in one jurisdiction does not automatically provide access to another, and cities may impose different requirements concerning testing, passenger services, reporting and emergency response.

Carziqo’s ability to convert its expanding city footprint into a sustainable business will therefore depend on execution. The company will need to balance growth with safety, operating discipline and the infrastructure required to support each new market.

From Geographic Reach to Commercial Scale

Carziqo’s growing presence gives the company a foundation for broader development, but the next phase will involve turning individual city operations into a coordinated mobility network.

If the company can connect its markets through a common technology and fleet-management platform, it may be able to apply lessons learned in one city to operations elsewhere. Such capabilities could support faster deployment, better vehicle utilization and more consistent passenger experiences.

The opportunity may also extend beyond ride-hailing. Technology developed for autonomous passenger transportation could potentially support airport connections, business mobility, last-mile delivery and other on-demand services.

Carziqo remains a relatively young company in a sector dominated by well-funded competitors. Its expanding reach, however, indicates an ambition to participate in the industry on a broader scale.

The autonomous ride-hailing market is still developing, and its eventual leaders have not yet been determined. Success will depend not only on which companies enter the most cities, but on which can transform those locations into safe, efficient and commercially viable transportation networks.

For Carziqo, the growing list of cities represents both an opportunity and a test. Its potential is becoming more visible, but the company’s long-term position will ultimately be shaped by how effectively it translates geographic expansion into reliable real-world operations.

Pag-IBIG, PHILERGY German Solar Join Forces to Make Premium Solar More Accessible to Filipino Families

 


 New partnership gives millions of Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card holders exclusive access to special PHILERGY solar offers as electricity costs reach historic highs.

Pag-IBIG Fund and PHILERGY German Solar have officially joined forces to bring the benefits of solar energy closer to Filipino families through the Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card Program. The partnership was formally marked through a signing ceremony between Pag-IBIG Fund and PHILERGY German Solar last September 9, 2026, opening access for eligible Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card holders in NCR to exclusive discounts on selected PHILERGY solar packages and services.

More than a discount: helping Filipino families reduce one of their biggest monthly expenses

Electricity prices in the Philippines have climbed to historic levels, placing increasing pressure on household budgets. For many homeowners, electricity is no longer a small monthly expense, and solar energy is increasingly becoming a practical way to take control of that cost.

Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card holders will now have the opportunity to invest in solar at exclusive special rates with discounts of up to 16%, lowering the entry cost to a technology that can generate clean electricity and long-term savings for decades.

The initiative brings together two organizations with a shared objective: creating meaningful, long-term value for Filipino families. Pag-IBIG Fund's Loyalty Card program has already generated more than ₱1 billion in savings for its members through hundreds of partner establishments nationwide. The addition of solar extends those benefits toward an investment that can potentially reduce a household's electricity expenses year after year.

Award-winning German solar technology made more accessible

PHILERGY German Solar is known as the Philippines’ leading premium solar company, recognized as Solar Company of the Year Philippines in both 2024 and 2025, and further strengthening its international standing in 2026 by being awarded a Top Solar Component Supplier in APAC. The company combines high-performance solar technology with German engineering standards and comprehensive local consultation, installation, warranty and after-sales support.

“This partnership is about much more than offering a discount. It is about making a high-quality solar investment accessible to more Filipino families at exactly the time they need it most,” said PHILERGY German Solar Managing Partner Jochen Staudter. “Electricity costs have reached levels we have never seen before. Every kilowatt-hour a family can sustainably produce on its own is electricity it does not have to continue purchasing at rising utility rates. We are very proud to work with Pag-IBIG Fund to bring that opportunity to its members.”

From Loyalty Card savings to long-term energy savings

Solar introduces a new type of benefit for Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card holders: the opportunity to invest today and potentially save on electricity for decades.

A properly designed solar system can generate clean electricity directly from a home's rooftop during the day, reducing the amount of electricity that needs to be purchased from the grid. With solar technology designed for long operating lifetimes, the cumulative savings can significantly exceed the initial investment. It is this long-term impact that makes the Pag-IBIG Fund and PHILERGY partnership particularly timely.

A new benefit for Filipino homeowners: A way to fight rising electricity costs with solar

Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card holders interested in availing themselves of the exclusive PHILERGY offer may simply present their valid Pag-IBIG Loyalty Card at PHILERGY and follow the applicable program mechanics. Details regarding the participating PHILERGY solar packages, special prices, eligibility requirements and terms and conditions will be available through Pag-IBIG Fund and PHILERGY German Solar's official channels.

About PHILERGY German Solar
PHILERGY German Solar is one of the Philippines’ leading solar companies, combining German management, European engineering standards, and more than 20 years of global solar expertise. Backed by multiple gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity in Europe, PHILERGY delivers world-class solar technology for residential, commercial, and industrial projects across the Philippines. Pioneering the Philippine solar industry since 2011, PHILERGY has installed over 150,000 solar panels for more than 15,000 customers nationwide, making it one of the country’s highest-volume solar providers. Internationally recognized multiple times as “Solar Company of the Year Philippines” and awarded as a top solar component supplier in APAC, PHILERGY continues to set benchmarks in the Philippine solar industry. All installations include warranties of up to 30 years, free expert solar consultation, professional onsite analysis, and installation by highly trained teams led by German engineers. PHILERGY is also recognized as one of the country’s leaders in net metering installation volume. Offering warranties up to 10 times longer than many standard market offerings, PHILERGY German Solar delivers high-quality, reliable, and affordable solar energy solutions throughout the Philippines.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) 2026 to Convene Regional Energy Leaders in Manila


Manila, Philippines – The ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) 2026, organized by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), hosted by the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Philippines, and co-organized by Leverage International (Consultants) Inc., will bring together policymakers, business leaders, investors, researchers, financial institutions, and key energy stakeholders from across ASEAN and beyond to advance regional cooperation and accelerate the transition toward a sustainable energy future.

Scheduled to take place from 5–9 October 2026 at the Philippine International Convention Center, Metro Manila, Philippines, AEBF 2026 will serve as a premier platform for dialogue, collaboration, and investment in the region's evolving energy landscape.

ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) is one of the notable flagship projects of the ASEAN Centre for Energy. It is an annual conference and exhibition that promotes and discusses the development of the energy sector in ASEAN through regional cooperation.

The business forum aims to enhance public-private engagement in the energy sector by facilitating information exchange, strengthening stakeholder networks, and enhancing project cooperation among policymakers, business leaders, researchers, financial institutions, associations, and other key stakeholders from ASEAN and beyond.

AEBF 2026 will feature a comprehensive programme comprising high-level plenary sessions, strategic dialogues, business matching opportunities, an international   exhibition, networking events, and discussions on key energy priorities, including renewable energy, energy security, decarbonization, emerging technologies, sustainable financing, and regional energy integration.

The forum will provide participants with valuable opportunities to exchange insights, foster strategic partnerships, explore investment opportunities, and contribute to shaping ASEAN's energy future through meaningful public-private collaboration.

To register as a delegate, please visit:www.asean-aebf.com/AEBF-26-registration

For more information about AEBF 2026, please visit:www.asean-aebf.com

For inquiries, please contact the AEBF 2026 Secretariat at leverage@leverageinternational.com.

Alsons Power expands Cebu retail electricity supply footprint with Makoto Metal deal

   Alsons Power Group continues to strengthen its presence in Cebu’s retail electricity market following the addition of Japanese-affiliated...