The collaboration between Topline Group, through its subsidiary Light Fuels Corporation and affiliate firms Vikingland Corp. and Pier Eighty-Eight Ventures Inc., and V-Green aims to develop EV charging and battery-swapping facilities across key locations in Central Visayas, positioning the company for the region’s transition toward multi-energy mobility solutions.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Topline Group will allocate spaces for EV charging facilities and battery-swapping stations for VinFast e-scooters in six strategic Light Fuels stations located in Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu. The rollout will also include the group’s smart port development, Pier88, and Bay Mall in Liloan, Cebu.

“This strategic move aims to make our core fuel business future-ready in the current energy landscape,” said Brigitte Carmel C. Lapasaran Lim, Topline Group senior vice president and chief operating officer.

“We are optimistic about our partnership with V-Green as we seek to capture the growing EV market while addressing service gaps through a multi-energy platform that supports both traditional fuels and electric mobility solutions,” she added.

Nguyen Thi Vu An, V-Green’s Vietnam representative, described the collaboration as a major step in expanding sustainable mobility infrastructure in the Philippines.

“This collaboration is a massive step forward in expanding our network and bringing sustainable energy to more locations. We look forward to a successful rollout and giving the future a green light,” Vu An said.

Commercial operations are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026, subject to the execution of definitive agreements.

Each participating Light Fuels station will initially feature one to two EV charging bays capable of servicing 18 to 20 vehicles daily per bay using the Combined Charging System Combo 2 (CCS2) standard mandated by the Department of Energy. Charging time is estimated at around 45 minutes per vehicle, depending on battery capacity and unit specifications.

Battery-swapping facilities for electric scooters will also be installed, allowing users to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged units.

The initiative comes amid accelerating EV adoption in Central Visayas. Data from the Land Transportation Office showed battery electric vehicle registrations in the region surged from 105 units in 2024 to 822 units in 2025.

“The initiative is part of our long-term vision of strengthening energy security in the Visayas,” Lim said. “By building a multi-energy platform today, we are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and inclusive transport ecosystem in the years ahead.”

The agreement will run for an initial term of five years, renewable for another five years.

Topline Group currently operates 18 service stations, while 32 more are under construction or renovation and are expected to be completed in phases by the end of 2026.

At the “Science2Business: Energy Resilience for Enhanced Security” conference held April 21 at the Manila Polo Club, officials from both countries highlighted the urgency of translating research into real-world solutions, especially as geopolitical tensions and climate risks reshape global energy landscapes.

Organized by the Stratbase Institute in partnership with the Embassy of Slovenia in the Philippines — Ljubljana’s first in Southeast Asia — the forum underscored a shared push for a science-to-business (S2B) approach to energy development.

Stratbase COO Rupert Paul Manhit pointed to Slovenia as a model for aligning government, industry, and civil society through research-driven innovation, an approach he said the Philippines can emulate as it positions itself as a hub for green metals and renewable energy.

“We are entering this period with important advantages. We have in place the right policy direction, with stronger support for renewable energy, infrastructure development, and digital transformation,” he said.

Manhit stressed that partnerships will be key to unlocking these opportunities: “We believe that progress is best achieved through cooperation with like-minded countries — those that share our commitment to mutual growth, ethical innovation, and rules-based cooperation… Slovenia is one such partner.”

Slovenian Ambassador Smiljana Knez affirmed her country’s readiness to work closely with the Philippines through technology sharing, academic collaboration, and public-private partnerships. She also pushed for stronger energy efficiency measures, describing them as essential to lowering costs and addressing climate risks.

Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga called for a “quadruple-helix” model of innovation — bringing together government, academia, industry, and communities — to address converging global threats.

“This threat convergence requires countries such as the Philippines to continuously re-examine development and security priorities in order to ensure that we attain stability and resilience through food, energy, and water security,” she said in her keynote address.

From Slovenia, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr. Igor Papič underscored the country’s heavy investments in research, noting that energy resilience “in the face of geopolitical disruption is a crucial aspect of our security and sustainable development.”

“The transfer of this knowledge into practice, especially into the economy, is essential for the development and prosperity of our country. This government is fully aware of that. That is why we have made significant investment in both knowledge and its application,” he added.

Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum echoed the need to strengthen collaboration, stressing that diversifying the country’s energy sources is now “more urgent than ever” to safeguard national security.

While the Philippines may not be directly hit by the current global energy crisis, Solidum noted its ripple effects on transport and other sectors. Since 2011, the Department of Science and Technology has backed 71 projects worth ₱652 million to advance solar, wind, ocean, and waste-to-energy technologies.

“Reinforcing our resilience to climate and disaster threats is no longer optional. It is a necessity,” Solidum said. “We anticipate collaboration and solutions for both countries to prosper.”

The proposed project, which may rise on a 20-hectare site within APECO, forms part of priority investments under the agreement signed on January 17, 2026 by APECO President and CEO Atty. G. Taway IV and Ally Power Head of Business Development in Asia Ed Travis at the agency’s headquarters in Casiguran, Aurora.

APECO said the planned facility is being studied as a long-term solution to Aurora’s energy reliability challenges, a key factor in attracting new locators and sustaining ecozone growth.

The MOU sets a framework for collaboration on clean energy, power generation, and related infrastructure projects, allowing both parties to conduct technical evaluations and planning while final project terms remain subject to separate agreements and regulatory approvals.

Any future power supply arrangement will comply with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and Energy Regulatory Commission rules.

Ally Power will lead technical and investment studies, while APECO will facilitate coordination within the ecozone in line with its mandate to promote sustainable economic development.

Travis said the company aims to support infrastructure development, job creation, and academic partnerships in Aurora, alongside its initial planned investment. The firm is also exploring a partnership with the Aurora State College of Technology to establish a Clean Energy Center of Excellence focused on green energy skills training.

Meralco said that at around 3:00 a.m. on January 4, a 37-year-old man attempted to steal power cables, triggering a temporary power interruption that affected nearly 8,000 customers. Electricity service was fully restored by 7:00 a.m. after Meralco crews promptly repaired the damaged lines.

The suspect was injured during the incident and was brought to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

“This incident underscores the grave dangers of stealing power cables and electrical facilities,” said Meralco Senior Vice President and Head of Networks Froilan J. Savet. “Beyond the inconvenience caused by service interruptions, these illegal acts pose serious, life-threatening risks due to the high voltage of Meralco facilities. Any contact with energized equipment can result in severe injury or even death.”

Savet again urged the public to help ensure safe and reliable electricity service by immediately reporting any suspicious activity involving Meralco facilities.

Meralco also reminded the public that wire theft is a criminal offense under Republic Act No. 7832, or the Anti-Electricity Pilferage Act, which carries penalties including imprisonment and fines.

Customers may report electricity service concerns through the MyMeralco app, Meralco’s official social media accounts on Facebook and X, via text at 0920-971-6211 or 0917-551-6211, or by calling the Meralco Hotline at 16211.