Businesses across the Philippines are significantly reducing their operational expenses and carbon footprint by adopting solar energy, with one hotel in Nueva Vizcaya cutting its electricity bill by over 40% after a government-assisted installation, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced.
The shift to renewable energy is being heavily promoted by DOST as a key strategy for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to boost profitability and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Anthony Caleon, owner of Casa Jardin by Zen and Zen Hotel Bayombong, reported that his monthly electricity bill plummeted from over PHP 500,000 to less than PHP 300,000 following the installation of a 100-kilowatt solar panel system. The system was funded with a PHP 3-million assistance grant from DOST-Region 2’s SETUP Innovation Fund (iFund).
“Makaka-bawas ako sa demand ng kuryente. Lalo na ang [Nueva] Vizcaya, napakamahal ng kuryente. Kaya sa operation namin, ang laki ng effect niyan,” Caleon stated during a project visit for the 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) in Cagayan Valley. He cited the region’s high electricity cost of around PHP 14.00 per kilowatt-hour as a primary motivator for the switch.
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum emphasized that the department’s focus extends beyond just increasing production for MSMEs. “Now, with the renewable energy, yung cost of production sa kuryente, gusto rin nilang mabawasan para lumaki yung kita. Kaya ang pagpapalaki ng kita, hindi lang production, kundi to lower the cost in expenses,” Solidum explained. He added that the initiative aligns with DOST’s dual goals of supporting people through job creation and the planet through climate resilience and greenhouse gas mitigation.
The total project cost for the solar system installed at Zen Hotel Bayombong was PHP 27 million. Caleon is now aiming for a near-zero electric bill once the installed Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are fully operationalized, allowing the business to store excess solar energy for later use.
The iFund program provides financial and technical assistance to MSMEs for technology adoption, offering support for equipment upgrading and training to enhance competitiveness. The funding acts as a mechanism for technology transfer, requiring repayment with low or zero interest over an extended period.
Beyond solar energy, DOST is also supporting electric mobility initiatives, including a project with Cagayan State University to convert traditional tricycles into electric vehicles to further reduce carbon dioxide emissions and generate jobs.
The project visit was part of the 2025 RSTW held in Cagayan Valley from October 9-11, an initiative aimed at providing science-based solutions across the strategic pillars of human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability.#
