Solar energy is increasingly being used in the country either to lower electric consumption on households or to reduce operational costs for businesses.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), solar energy is a radiant energy from the sun that can be converted into electricity or heat using technologies like photovoltaics (PV) and solar thermal systems. It is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available.
Through the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), businesses are encouraged to adopt green technologies such as renewable energy, not just to lower electricity bills but to also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
“So, what we are saying is that the DOST is focused on helping people and the planet. Ang people sa trabaho, ang planet, sa climate resilience, climate mitigation in greenhouse gas,” DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum said.
One of the beneficiaries of the program is Anthony Caleon, the owner of AACaleon Realty Corporation, operating under the name of Casa Jardin by Zen, located at Purok 1, Bonfal Proper Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
“Gaya nga nang nasabi ko po kanina, makakabawas ako sa demand ng kuryente. Lalo na ang [Nueva] Vizcaya, napakamahal ng kuryente. Kaya sa operation namin, ang laki ng effect niyan. Dati kasi ang laki ng bill namin, 500,000 mahigit. Ngayon less than 300,000 na lang”, Caleon said in an interview, during a project visit.
According to Caleon, Nueva Vizcaya’s current electric price is at around P14.00 per kilowatt hour (kWh) which he said is lower than Isabela’s at P10 per kWh.
Caleon was granted a Php3 million assistance from the DOST-Region 2 through the SETUP Innovation Fund (iFund) program, for the installation of one unit of 100kw On-Grid/Grid-tie Solar PV System. It was recently installed in the last week of June 2025.
The solar panels were housed at Zen Hotel Bayombong, where DOST officials, including Solidum, stayed during the 2025 Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Week (RSTW) in Cagayan Valley.
iFund program provides financial and technical assistance to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt technological innovations and improve their competitiveness. It offers support like seed funds for technology acquisition, equipment upgrading, training, and consultancy services, helping MSMEs enhance product quality, increase productivity, and streamline operations.
This funding is a mechanism for technology transfer, requiring MSMEs to repay the financial assistance with low or zero interest over an extended period.
Based on the data provided by the DOST 2, the total project cost of the solar system installed at Zen Hotel Bayombong is at Php27 million.
“So, ang ating focus, syempre noong unang panahon ang mga MSME naka focus lang sa production. Mas maraming production, mas maraming kita. 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 said.
Caleon said they are hoping to achieve ‘zero’ electric bill, especially once they fully operationalize the battery energy storage systems (BESS) they installed.
BESS are commonly used in solar energy systems to store excess energy [from the sun] for later use.
Aside from promoting the use of solar energy, the DOST is also assisting Cagayan State University in electric mobility research and development where it produces converted traditional tricycles to electric tricycles.
“We want to say that we are happy because that is already being recognized by the government and up to Mindanao, many are interested. So, what we are doing is we are looking for people who can invest in the spin-off of Cagayan State so that we can produce [converted tricycles] and reduce carbon dioxide emissions and generate a lot of jobs here,” Solidum said.
The project visit is among the activities of the 2025 RSTW held in Cagayan Valley on October 9-11.
The 2025 RSTW is one of the initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.dost.gov.ph
