Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Transition of Stewardship of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) Hydroelectric Power Plants

Thank you very much, Secretary Frederick Go, for your kind introduction.

[Please take your seats.]

The Cabinet Ministers here present, well, Secretary Sharon Garin, Secretary Cris Roque, and Secretary Kiko – I didn’t forget you – [laughter] and, of course, the Special Assistant to the President Secretary Lagdameo; the Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz and all the officials and employees of the Aboitiz Group of Companies; local government officials who are joining us today; partners in the private sector and stakeholders; Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya – I’m sorry I cannot return the favor because my Japanese is non-existent; our invited guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Good morning.

Today’s turnover of the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan Hydroelectric Power Plants (HEPP) marks a deliberate step toward an energy system that is steadier in operation, smarter in design, and ready for the future that we are building.

A future where Filipinos can count on electricity that keeps pace with their needs and works without disruption.

The CBK HEPP is one of the largest hydropower complexes in Luzon. With an overall capacity of 797 megawatts, composed of three distinct but complementary facilities, each one serving a clear and practical purpose.

Caliraya power plant is an impounded water system. And the same as Sabin, I have many memories about using Caliraya Sierra Lake for – you know we go there for the weekend. And I actually – unlike you I actually met Marlon Brando [laughter] when they were filming “Apocalypse Now”.

It may not be – people may not know this but it was actually created for power storage of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. The same idea as we are doing now wherein – because a nuclear power plant cannot be turned off for all intents and purposes – it can be slowed down but it cannot be turned off.

And in times of low demand, the surplus power would be used to pump water up to Caliraya. And in times of high demand, the nuclear power plant would produce power and they would release water to produce hydroelectric power.

And I’m very, very glad that its original purpose is now being used to power our grid and to bring power to our people.

Now, Botocan operates as a run-of-river system. And Kalayaan is a pumped-storage facility.

And for many years, the CBK Complex has already played a vital role in supporting Luzon grid.

With this privatization, completed through the successful bid of over PhP36.27 billion, the government is able to unlock significant resources while ensuring the continued operation of a strategically important energy asset.

In doing so, the government can invest where it matters most— in our people. Particularly, these resources can be directed towards the immediate needs of the public, such as for classrooms, for roads, and for hospitals.

And as we continue to diversify our energy sources, facilities like CBK help support renewable energy integration into the grid.

During off-peak hours, excess power is used to pump water to an upper reservoir. When the demand is high, that water is released to generate electricity—allowing cleaner energy to work reliab[ly] at scale.

Together, they form a system designed not just to generate power, but to balance the supply and demand across the entire power system.

This is made possible through the Kalayaan pumped-storage facility, which supports grid stability.

And as investments are made to modernize and improve these facilities, these benefits will extend beyond just the grid and create an impact in the lives of our fellow Filipinos.

For households, this means fewer power interruptions.

For hospitals and schools, it means fewer service disruptions.

As for our workers and entrepreneurs, it means time saved, productivity gained, and opportunities found and sustained.

Indeed, stable power keeps daily life on schedule. This gives essential services and industries reliability and it gives families peace of mind.

This is why we, in government, continue to strengthen the systems in our energy sector—by improving policies, processes, and partnerships to ensure that energy reliability and affordability are sustained in the long-term.

Building on the strength of both the public and private sectors, we encourage collaborations that safeguard the public interest while promoting transparency and accountability.

We thank the Thunder Consortium for taking on this responsibility with a clear commitment to long-term stewardship.

This privatization reflects investors’ confidence in the direction of our country’s energy sector.

It also demonstrates once again how strategic public–private collaboration transforms investment in essential infrastructure into reliable, everyday services that people can trust.

I am optimistic that both the CBK Complex and our public-private partnership will help power a more secure, more stable, and more forward-looking future for the Filipino people.

Thank you very much.

Mabuhay kayong lahat.

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas! [applause]

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