The project — the country’s largest integrated solar facility — is scheduled to dispatch an initial 85 MW of power this month, less than 15 months after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led its inauguration in November 2024.

President Marcos welcomed the development and commended Meralco’s broader efforts to expand electrification, strengthen renewable energy capacity, and support inclusive access to power.

“In the spirit of partnership, let me recognize the continued support of Meralco — our largest distribution utility, for its critical role in advancing our energy goals. From the Terra Solar project which will significantly expand renewable capacity through large scale solar and battery storage, to the electrification of remote communities and support of our net metering and lifeline rate programs, your initiatives help many Filipinos gain access to energy,” President Marcos Jr. said.

During an event at Meralco’s headquarters in Pasig City, the President joined Meralco Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon S. Garin, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan, and other officials in reaffirming shared commitments to social protection, renewable energy adoption, and universal access to electricity — priorities outlined in the President’s 2025 State of the Nation Address.

Meralco reiterated its support for the national energy agenda and pledged to continue working closely with the DOE, ERC, and other national and local government agencies to implement programs that directly benefit Filipino consumers.

Pangilinan highlighted initiatives aligned with the President’s directives, including strengthened implementation of the Lifeline Rate Subsidy Program to ensure marginalized families benefit from electricity discounts, and streamlined net metering applications to make rooftop solar more accessible. These efforts support the administration’s target of energizing at least one million households through rooftop solar by 2028.

In support of total electrification, Pangilinan said in a Feb. 14 news release: “We continue working to bring reliable electricity to unserved and underserved communities–using both legacy and innovative grid solutions.”

Meralco recently launched a hybrid solar project that will soon provide 24/7 power to more than 1,000 residents on Cagbalete Island in Mauban, Quezon.

Beyond renewables, the company also secured a US$2.8-million technical assistance grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency to support a comprehensive study on the potential deployment of nuclear power plants in the country, in line with the government’s efforts to explore safe and responsible nuclear energy adoption.

Pangilinan said that these milestones were made possible through strong collaboration among government, regulators, utilities, and communities.

“We are deeply grateful that your government appreciates the importance in our work. Thank you for the direction you gave, and the productive partnership given to Meralco by your administration,” he told President Marcos Jr.

Finance Secretary and Social Security Commission Chair Frederick D. Go said the proposed SSS Micro-Loan Program is designed to give members fast, safe, and affordable access to short-term credit, particularly for urgent, everyday needs that often drive borrowers toward predatory lending.

The initiative aligns with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to shield Filipinos from exploitative lending practices while ensuring timely financial support through formal and regulated channels.

“Through the proposed SSS Micro-Loan Program, we are addressing the immediate cash needs of members by offering small, short-term loans at reasonable rates and with flexible repayment options,” Secretary Go said.

“This program will help steer members away from loan sharks and other high-cost, predatory lending schemes, while promoting responsible borrowing,” he added.

Under the proposed framework, the SSS will partner with participating banks and financial institutions, allowing members to access loans conveniently through digital platforms.

Key features of the program include loan amounts ranging from ₱1,000 to ₱20,000, depending on a member’s average monthly salary credit; flexible repayment terms of 15 to 90 days; and an interest rate of 8% per annum, or about 0.67% per month, significantly lower than rates charged by informal lenders.

The micro-loan facility will be open to eligible SSS members aged 18 to under 65 years old with at least 12 paid monthly contributions, and who have no pending or settled retirement, total disability, or death benefit claims. Members with existing SSS loans may still qualify, subject to program limits.

The SSS is currently finalizing program guidelines, systems integration, and partnerships with participating banks, with a pilot rollout targeted for the first half of 2026.

“This micro-loan program reflects our continued commitment to strengthening social protection and advancing financial inclusion for all Filipinos,” Secretary Go said.

Grab Philippines and MOVE IT, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), have officially launched the Asenso Center, the first livelihood hub of its kind in the country and Grab’s Southeast Asia network.

The one-hectare facility is designed to professionalize the onboarding of platform workers and entrepreneurs, accelerate AI-driven income opportunities, and streamline access to social protection programs such as SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth. It also provides microinsurance and welfare coverage through Chubb and AXA, offering a holistic support ecosystem for digital workers.

Grab Philippines Country Managing Director Ronald Roda said the Asenso Center transforms the company’s on-ground insights into tangible empowerment.

“Grab is one of the Philippines’ most mature platform work ecosystems, giving us a ground level understanding of what Filipino platform workers and micro-entrepreneurs truly need to thrive,” Roda said. “The Asenso Center opens dignified, digitally powered livelihoods, equips our partners with practical AI copilots, and helps families convert opportunity into income at scale.”

Meanwhile, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda underscored the vital role of the gig economy in improving the lives of Filipino families, calling Grab and MOVE IT partners the “frontline of the digital economy.”

“In every trip you take, there’s a child who gets to eat, tuition that gets paid, and medical bills that are settled, that’s what real change looks like,” Aguda remarked. “You are the frontline of the digital economy.”

Aguda also emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in achieving the DICT’s vision of creating millions of digital livelihoods across the country.

Apart from this, Secretary Aguda made a notable suggestion by encouraging Grab Philippines to consider going public through an initial public offering (IPO), emphasizing that such a move would open more avenues for Filipinos to invest and co-own a company that directly empowers people through job creation and inclusive participation in the gig economy.

“An IPO for Grab Philippines would allow the public to take part in its success story,” Aguda said. “It’s a chance for ordinary Filipinos to invest in a company that not only drives innovation but also transforms lives by creating sustainable digital livelihoods.”

A Flagship for Professionalized AI Driven Livelihoods

The Asenso Center supports Grab’s commitment to create 500,000 livelihood opportunities under its partnership with the national government. The company has already reached 73 percent of its five-year goal and is on track to exceed the target ahead of schedule.

Merchant participation is also on the rise, with the number of Community Merchants increasing by 30 percent year on year as more local MSMEs formalize their businesses online.

The facility integrates AI enablement into partner development through mobile-first tools such as the Merchant AI Assistant and AI Driver Companion, both designed to help partners work more efficiently and responsibly.

“Used responsibly, AI becomes a force multiplier — an exponent on every hour of work online,” Roda explained. “Our goal is to make enterprise-grade tools accessible through a smartphone, raise standards of safety and service, and broaden participation in the growing AI economy.”

Among those using the Merchant AI Assistant is Marvin Catimbang, Chief Operating Officer of Coffee Blanc and a GrabFood 5-Star Eats Merchant Partner, who said the tool automates daily tasks and helps analyze consumer insights critical to business growth.

Viable Earnings and Accessible Protection

Grab said platform productivity is structured so that active partners working at least eight hours a day can achieve family-sustaining income levels with many surpassing this threshold depending on demand, service type, and time of day.

MOVE IT rider partner and community leader Nica “Khang” Brieta shared how her earnings have supported her education and family.

“Dahil po sa kita ko sa MOVE IT, napag-aral ko po ang aking sarili pati ang aking kapatid. Nasisiguro ko rin na natutustusan ko ang medikal na pangangailangan ng aking anak. Sa MOVE IT, empowered kaming mga kababaihan na makipagsabayan sa kalsada para kumita nang patas para sa aming mga pamilya.”

For his part, MOVE IT General Manager Wayne Jacinto emphasized that professionalization and protection must go hand in hand.

“From safety training and service standards to modular benefits and on-trip coverage, the Asenso Center helps driver partners build sustainable, future proof livelihoods,” he said.

The Asenso Center also integrates social protection enrollment directly into its onboarding process, enabling partners to register for SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth while opting for private insurance coverage. For top performing partners, Grab and MOVE IT subsidize Pag-IBIG contributions and provide free life insurance in addition to standard on-trip protection.

Grab’s responsible AI framework follows four guiding principles: improve safety, protect privacy, keep people in control, and make learning simple — reinforcing its commitment to ethical innovation.

“AI should reward effort, not replace it,” Roda concluded. “Our role is to lower the barrier to entry into the AI economy, protect user trust, and ensure that Filipino workers and MSMEs capture the full benefit of digital transformation.”

Dubbed the Social Protection, Inclusion, and Gender Equality (SPRING) program, the five-year initiative was unveiled during the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) annual Partnership Forum.

SPRING will run from 2024 to 2029 and will enhance collaboration between the two countries as Strategic Partners, focusing on poverty reduction and creating equal opportunities for all Filipinos.

The program is designed to bolster the Philippines’ social protection framework through technical assistance, capacity-building, and evidence-based policy reforms. Key features include:

• Strengthening gender budgeting and mainstreaming systems;
• Improving data on persons with disabilities to enable better-targeted services; and
• Expanding access to social services for indigenous peoples.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian formalized the agreement during the launch event, underscoring the program’s alignment with the Australia-Philippines Development Partnership Plan 2024-2029.

“Australia is committed to working with the Philippines to achieve its development objectives, and through SPRING we are stepping up our support for the most disadvantaged Filipinos,” said Ambassador Yu.

SPRING builds on Australia’s long-standing support for Philippine social protection initiatives. Secretary Gatchalian emphasized the significance of the program in enhancing the country’s mechanisms, which supported around 24 million Filipinos in 2024.

“The DSWD understands that our country is diverse and constantly evolving. That is why we continue to build partnerships and innovate our approach to be just as dynamic and responsive. We thank the Australian Government for investing in strengthening the Philippine Government’s system to reduce poverty and gender inequality and promote social inclusion,” said Gatchalian.

Over a hundred informal workers in Siargao have registered at a One-stop services, gaining access to social protection, livelihood support, and employment opportunities.

The ILO and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) have partnered with Lokal Lab at the Tinabangay (helping together in the local dialect) to hold a One-stop service registration held on 29-30 November 2024 in General Luna, the tourism hub.

The initiative assisted hundreds of informal workers in the agro-fishery, tourism, digital freelance, and micro and small enterprise sectors under the ILO’s Rise from multiple crises through the integrated formalization of informal economy and Rebuilding Better Coconut Economy projects.

Siargao, a famous surfing destination, relies heavily on tourism and agriculture. However, farmers, fishers and tourism operators become increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Stronger typhoons and environmental shocks have pushed many into poverty, worsened by limited access to social protection.

“We provide an integrated and streamlined social protection registration to support farmers, fishers, tourism and informal economy workers. As a one-stop seamless process, they are not just prepared but also protected against economic shocks and climate change,” said Linartes Viloria, ILO National Project Coordinator.

The ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2024-26 highlights how social protection helps people adapt and cope with climate shocks by providing income security and healthcare access. It also serves as cushion for families, workers and businesses during the green transition, promoting sustainable economic practices.

The DOLE has extended livelihood support to disadvantaged and displaced workers through its TUPAD program. This community-based safety net initiative provides temporary employment to workers in the informal economy.

“We are committed to supporting the transition of informal economy workers to the formal sector. Through this, we bring livelihood support and extend social protection and employment services directly and reach those vulnerable to climate change,” said DOLE Caraga Regional Director Atty. Joffrey Suyao.

Featuring the ILO’s Single window service model, the One-stop Island Services brought together the Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and local governments in providing registration services and information sessions.

Siargao has been identified in labor inspections as an area needing improvement in social protection compliance, with many workers lacking the necessary registration and understanding of its importance.

The initiative aims to build a more resilient and inclusive island by educating workers on the importance and benefits of social protection. This is in addition to providing a comprehensive and integrated approach for entrepreneurship and employment facilitation.

This initiative, supported by the ILO’s Regular Budget Supplementary Account (RBSA) with contributions from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Spain, aims to promote decent work and extend social protection.