Silliman University Medical Center (SUMC), a leading healthcare institution in the Visayas, has renewed its partnership with First Gen Corporation, one of the country’s largest producers of renewable energy (RE). The agreement, finalized on 12 December 2024, ensures SUMC receives 800 kilowatts (kW) of electricity from First Gen’s Palinpinon geothermal plant in Negros Oriental, which supports the operations of its 300-bed facility.
Fredita R. Tan, president of SUMC, emphasized the significant reduction in electricity costs and the environmental benefits of utilizing clean power, which has contributed to a reduction in the hospital’s carbon footprint. SUMC first collaborated with First Gen in 2022, incorporating both geothermal energy and a rooftop solar installation that generates up to 462 kilowatt-peak (KWp) of power.
The partnership is also part of Silliman University’s broader sustainability initiative. Carlo Vega, vice president at First Gen, highlighted the healthcare sector’s energy demands and the importance of decarbonizing medical facilities. SUMC is the first tertiary hospital on Negros Island to tap into locally sourced renewable energy, enabled through the government’s Green Energy Option Program (GEOP).
First Gen’s subsidiary, Energy Development Corporation (EDC), produces over 60 percent of the country’s geothermal energy, contributing to its portfolio of low-carbon power plants across the Philippines.
